Nearly half of Americans (49%) believe that the federal government should regulate the Internet the same way it does radio and television, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national survey.

Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree, and 16% are undecided.

Americans also believe overwhelmingly -- 73% yes to 13% no -- that it should be a crime to harass someone on the Internet.

The findings come as a Missouri woman faces an unprecedented federal prosecution for allegedly setting up an account for a fictitious 16-year-old on an online social networking site to harass the 13-year-old daughter of a neighbor. The girl, Megan Meier, ultimately committed suicide after being viciously rejected by the made-up boy.

Lori Drew, the woman in question, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges of conspiracy and accessing a protected computer to obtain information. She allegedly created the MySpace account after her daughter had a falling out with Meier.

Seventy-one percent (71%) have some awareness of the Drew case, with only 25% saying they know nothing about it at all. Women (79%) more than men

(67%) think Internet harassment should be a crime. Age is also a factor, with support for criminalizing such behavior higher the older the respondent.

Women also feel much more strongly about federal regulation of the Internet, with 55% in favor, 25% opposed and 20% undecided. Men reject federal regulation by a small margin – 46% to 42% -- with 12% unsure.

Rasmussen Reports™: The most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a presidential election.

Such areas should be tread on very lightly and cautiously.
I think some simple analogies could be drawn up to parallel real life situations.
"Regulate the internet" should not be construed or used as an excuse to hinder free speech.

"regulate" is too broad of a word...It's also a scare word

I would need specific ideas before I'd come down on it...

__________________
"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Exactly...when I hear the word "regulate"..I want to know the details.

__________________
"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

You're right that it's needlessly vague.
But at the same time, with free speech, isn't the point that it's the "regulation" that should be "come down on" until the government can provide specifics as to why it should not be allowed? I wouldn't say "yes" to anybody asking about "regulation" until I knew the specifics...
Or maybe that's what you meant.

Nearly half of Americans (49%) believe that the federal government should regulate the Internet the same way it does radio and television, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national survey.

Nevertheless, I found the intro fascinating...
I believe the reason the government gets away with "regulating" radio and television is because radio and TV involve "scarce" resources.
There are (or maybe we should say "were") only a limited number of "frequencies" which could be viably used. With cable TV, this is almost a problem of the past.
The internet doesn't have those limitations. Not really.

I can see "regulation" of "adult" content, like we wouldn't want porn mags out in the open on the street corner. But answers to combat such things would be difficult, cause any intelligent 12 year old can enter a "birthdate" which makes him 30. Asking for a "credit card number" in this day and age with credit card fraud / identity theft? Trouble-some and definitely not infalible with a kid being able to borrow it from the parent's purse / wallet.
I think an approach on this level should revolve more along the consumer using "nanny" software to prevent their kids from accessing inappropriate material. Any web-site that could be shown to be purposely circumventing such software could be in trouble.

One of the things that people get all bent out of shape about is internet porn.

I don't know why they can't simply make all porn sites use the .xxx suffix so that anybody can block those sites from their computers.

I don't think the government should regulate the internet, any more than I believe it should regulate television and radio.

__________________
"No man is happy without a delusion of some kind. Delusions are as necessary to our happiness as realities."
...Christian Nestell Bovee

I would like to see the actual study questions and info on how they came up with that number. I don't know anyone who uses the net frequently who would approve of regulation.

__________________

Thanks, I'll send the link to my daughter. She 's a WOW nut. But you still get banned.

No spam here.

__________________

So, you are saying you didn't read the situation in the OP?

I would. I know some things that are being investigated which took place online. There are some things that take place online that the average person is unaware of. And some of these things go on routinely.

An internet police force could be a good thing as long as the laws were not insidious or oppressive.

Anarchy on the Internet by Thomas Sowell -- Capitalism Magazine

Continues at the link.