made with the help of Gemini AI
Prologue: Handling New Technology
It should be part of our social/political/economic ethos by now. The introduction of new technology always follows the same pattern: a better idea comes along, and entrepreneurs jump on the bandwagon, hoping to make a pile of money. Some do; most do not. Due to the uncertainty, profits must be high to induce participants. There is no legislative control, so it’s the Wild West.
There comes a point where the limits are pushed too far, and the dark side of the technology starts to show and the dark side of society begins to take a hand: both the criminals and the businessmen.
Public opinion persuades legislators to create laws to control the technology, to the great ire of those making a fortune out of its free use.
This pattern has repeated time and again: powered looms, automobiles, telephones, television.
Time for the Internet to Take Its Turn
I remember not so long ago when the Internet was touted as a tool for democracy, because authoritarians could not control the spread of information. We are long past that point. We have learned that nobody was controlling the tech giants who were making a fortune out of misuse of the technology: stealing intellectual rights, stealing news stories, using psychological knowledge to attract, hold and manipulate users, especially the vulnerable, like children and addicts.
Governments Are Finally Doing Their Duties
First Australia, then Malaysia and France, now Canada. But now the naysayers are out in force with their stock wisdom.
“They’ll Never Enforce It.”
The basic idea here is that laws come from governments, which then have to force people to obey them. This is not the case. Laws come from voters, who send legislators into parliament to enact the policies the voters want. Thus, by the time these new laws are put into effect, a large majority of the population will be quite happy to follow them, especially parents who see their children in danger.
It’s All About Percentages
Just as it happened with laws on automatic weapons, driving automobiles, and children buying cigarettes, a certain percentage of potential victims will find ways to participate. But a much higher percentage will follow the laws, and many victims will be pulled out of harm’s way.
And Then There’s the Profiteers
The other half of the legislation could be even more effective: that which deals with the responsibilities of service providers. Just like automobile manufacturers have been made more and more responsible for the safety of their products, internet providers and social media are the ones with the power to make their services safer.
Sure, they’ll yell and scream at how it cuts into their bottom lines, but they have already made too much money on the abuse of their customers, and it’s time they were held to account.
The Bottom Line
We’re way past time in enacting legislation to control how companies use the Internet to make fortunes from the weak and those unable to understand. Everyone predicted it. Governments and societies need to act before this sort of thing is repeated, not react once it has done its damage.
Internet Gambling and its advertising should be next.