LAW 6035 :
First Amendment in Cyberspace

This course will take an in-depth look at the future of speech regulation on the Internet and past successes and failures. Embraced by many as a medium that democratizes expression worldwide, the Internet also is the means by which considerable amounts of harmful speech are communicated. In what ways does (or should) the First Amendment prohibit or permit the Government to regulate expression on the Internet? Should it matter that the Internet is a global medium and the First Amendment is a particularly American legal norm? Class discussions will take up these questions when addressing governmental attempts to regulate anonymous speech, commercial speech (spam), computer code, hate speech, pornography, defamation, and other forms of expression. Discussion will not be limited to regulation of expression by the government but also will consider private speech regulations and the use of computer code to give effect to such regulation. Although the readings and class discussion focus on First Amendment issues, students may write their research paper on related cyberlaw topics. **This course is offered every other year, alternating with Intellectual Property in Cyberspace.**