I can’t see how government regulation can work. Regulation of content is the industry’s responsibility. The problem of giving kids access is easier to address than terrorism. I think the model that will work for kids is safe spaces, built either by a service provider or through software controls. Of course, it’s tough to block off the dangerous sites, because they just keep popping up.
Predictor: Andreessen, Marc
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 article in Government Computer News, associate editor Shawn P. McCarthy interviewed Tim Berners-Lee, designer of the World Wide Web, and Marc Andreessen, developer of the Mosaic browser. They shared their views on the Web and government involvement. In response to the question, ÒAre there on-line issues where the government should step back and stay out of the way?Ó Andreessen replies: ÒIt’s amazing to me how aggressive the government has been in adopting Internet technology. Government sites have been at it for a long time, long before the commercial world. I’ve heard people say the reason the government got involved so quickly is because it could pick up the software for free without going through a procurement cycle. That says something. I can’t see how government regulation can work. Regulation of content is the industry’s responsibility. The problem of giving kids access is easier to address than terrorism. I think the model that will work for kids is safe spaces, built either by a service provider or through software controls. Of course, it’s tough to block off the dangerous sites, because they just keep popping up.Ó
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Censorship/Free Speech
Name of publication: Government Computer News
Title, headline, chapter name: They Made the Web Spun Round the World
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 24
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne