Government Regulation Could Stifle Internet.

• Position: Brief Article

Governments should be cautious in regulating anonymous communication on the Internet, according to a study by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Such regulations could prevent people from seeking counseling, expressing political opinions, or engaging in commerce, and could impede the development of e-commerce and the World Wide Web. The two-year project, funded by the National Science Foundation, is the first comprehensive analysis of how to balance the costs and benefits of anonymous communication on the Internet.

"Anonymous communication is a form of communication, with all of the human complexities that we experience in modern society. In modern society, people routinely communicate...