The Ethics of Cyberspace [Paperback]

In this book, Cees J Hamelink proposes an answer to - how should democratic societies organize cyberspace? - that puts human-rights, rather than profit, at the top of the agenda. He argues that conventional ethical approaches are all seriously flawed. There is a growing volume of moral rules, netiquettes and codes of conduct, but they are of little help in solving the moral dilemmas raised by the new technologies. In this book the author analyzes the inadeqacies of current global governance policies and structures that underpin them, and argues for standards which put justice, human security and freedom first.

In this book, Cees J Hamelink proposes an answer to - how should democratic societies organize cyberspace? - that puts human-rights, rather than profit, at the top of the agenda. He argues that conventional ethical approaches are all seriously flawed. There is a growing volume of moral rules, netiquettes and codes of conduct, but they are of little help in solving the moral dilemmas raised by the new technologies. In this book the author analyzes the inadeqacies of current global governance policies and structures that underpin them, and argues for standards which put justice, human security and freedom first.

`Cees Hamelink is one of the world's leading analysts of informational trends. He is also a scholar with a deep ethical commitment. In this volume he brings together these concerns in work which is at once urgent and illuminating' - Frank Webster, The University of Birmingham

`Cees Hamelink has written an indispensible pionering guide to the moral maze of cyberspace. It is at the same time an informative, critical and practical response to the global challenges of information communication technology for all who care about human rights and citizenship' - Denis McQuail, Emeritus Professor, University of AmsterdamWhy Be Moral abol��