Should The Government Have The Duty To Monitor The Internet

"Recently, there has been a debate over the extent of whether the American government has a duty to monitor internet content. The first amendment of the constitution grants American citizens the right to freedom of speech; many people believe this allows them to say whatever they feel, however if what they say affects the country or puts it in danger, the government has to draw a line. Although the government should not control everything we say, there should be a duty they have to keep our country safe. As far as local government is concerned, the internet and it’s content does not need to be regulated as harshly. There are however, extreme cases such as cyberbullying, where it is important to look into internet usage and regulate the students doing the bullying. But as for schools in general, they should not have the authority to monitor students’ use of the internet or their internet content. The first amendment protects freedom of expression, which is freedom of the press and freedom of speech. Although the internet was not thought of when it was written, it certainly falls into that category.American citizens have the right to express themselves through the internet without being restricted, however extreme circumstances call for different actions. …show more content…
With growing rises of terrorism across the world -- but the U.S. especially-- it is crucial that suspicious activities get checked out immediately. For legal reasons, looking into someone’s internet activities should be the same as looking in someone’s house; there should be probable cause or some type of warrant. As shown in cases such as the Boston Marathon shooting, the internet and citizens’ internet content can help solve crimes on a national level -- in these instances, monitoring the internet is a duty to the country and is necessary to protect the wellbeing of