This is a test
A common thread among certain early Internet pundits and scholars was a general disposition against government involvment in cyberspace. The basis for these positions varies from political positions, such as Barlow’s libertarian opposition to government intrusion, to beliefs that the government is unable to functionally exert authority there, as Spar and Bussgang contend. An underlying assumption here is that the government will act, at least primarily as an entity of enforcement, that it will act as an authority.
However, modern governments serve many roles, beyond just regulating and law enforcement. Other governments roles include defending and protecting people and property; providing education and services; supporting commerce, sciences and the arts; settling disputes; constructing infrastructure; and so forth. It was, in fact, through a combination of these roles that government birthed the Internet itself. It would be difficult to argue against governmental roles for any of these undertakings. Thus, the argument should not be whether the government belongs on the Internet but rather what role or roles it should have there.
Nonetheless, the Internet poses challenges to many traditional government services. Some functions are tangible and not suited to cyberspace (i.e. weapons, modes of transportation, energy production, wildlife protection). People require security in person and online. Many services have historically involved interpersonal interaction, requiring the adaptation of both programs and the beneficiary to new interfaces. System security is critical for the effectiveness and faith in interactions involving financial or personal information.
But where the government has and will excel is in the provision of services involving information. Indeed, there is no doubt that the government’s role as an information provider has grown exponentially with its adoption of the Internet. Demographics, economic statistics, environmental data are but a sample of what government can and does publish online. While some government information on the Internet, through press material, “spin”, information control or other methods, may ultimately be subjective, it should not undermine the greater wealth of objective data and information available on line.
Thinking back to the days before modern (or at least my) awareness and use of the Internet, such information often required the active and mobile pursuit of it in terrestrial locations - libraries, repositories, government offices. Much is now immediately proximate. Whereas immediate government information in the pre-Internet revolution days may have meant the appearance on TV of a vertical spectrum of color, a long monotone beep, and an announcement of “this is a test of the emergency broadcast system. If this had been an actual emergency, the Attention Signal you just heard would have been followed by official information, news or instructions…,” today’s services are inumberable.
While the debate on the government’s control, enforcement and regulation of the Internet will persist, there should be little doubt about the presence and role of the government in cyberspace. There is much good work that government can do there, and there should be a strong constituency to support and shape this presence.