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Live Free and Prosper: Government’s Place in Virtual Worlds and On-line Communities

How should the Internet be governed? What is the role of policy and law in shaping on-line communities? Should we allow anonymity on-line or does that lead to cyber-bullying and griefers? Are there dangers if government avoids asserting control over on-line content and commerce?

Robert Bloomfield, Professor at Cornell University, welcomed Adam Thierer on Wednesday October 7th for a discussion of on-line freedom.

Adam is a Senior Fellow at the Progress & Freedom Foundation which believes:

PFF’s underlying philosophy combines an appreciation for the positive impacts of technology with a classically conservative view of the proper role of government. We believe that the technological change embodied in the digital revolution has created tremendous opportunities for enhanced individual liberty, as well as wealth creation and higher living standards. Those opportunities can only be realized if governments resist the temptation to regulate, tax, and control. Government has important roles to play in society, including protecting property rights and individual liberties, but its tendency is to reach beyond its legitimate functions in ways that harm consumers, burden citizens, and slow progress.

Adam will discuss how the PFF is studying the digital revolution and its role in providing research, insight and practical advice on how public policy might be crafted in an era in which the Web and virtual worlds are opening up new opportunities for commerce and self expression.

Specifically, the discussion will examine child protection and parental control, free speech and privacy, and issues related to cyber-bullying and anonymity.

Guest Biographies

Adam Thierer

Adam Thierer is a Senior Fellow with the Progress & Freedom Foundation and the Director of PFF’s Center for Digital Media Freedom. He formerly served as Director of Telecommunications Studies at the Cato Institute for four years and as a Fellow in Economic Policy at the Heritage Foundation for nine years. He is the author or editor of six books on technology and media policy. Thierer earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism at Indiana University and received his master’s degree in international business management and trade theory at the University of Maryland. In his spare time he: burns through his savings buying sports cars on E-Bay, enjoys drinking fine English cask-conditioned ales (but not while driving the aforementioned sports cars), plays far too many video games for a man of his age, and teaches his kids how to draw pencil mustaches and devil horns on pictures of politicians.