Digital Law
This Webpage provides information on current issues related to digital law. The Webpage gives an overview of what digital law is, types of violations and their consequences, and resources for teachers to teach digital law.
What is Digital Law?
Digital law can be defined as the legal rights and restrictions governing technology use. In today's world, many people are not responsible digital citizens. They are criminals, breaking the law, either knowing or not knowing, what is appropriate or inappropriate technology use. For example, many people think that it is okay to download music without paying for it. This is illegal though and there can be serious consequences if caught. You can pay a hefty fine or even go to jail. Other violations include illegal file sharing sites, pirating software, creating viruses, hacking into systems or networks, stealing someones identity, and copyright infringement. In order to create a functioning 21st century global society with responsible digital citizens, students need to be taught and informed of these violations.
Types of Violations and their Consequences
Illegal File Sharing - The sharing of files between people using computers connected to the internet. The term covers both the making available of the file (uploading), for instance on a file sharing service such as the YouTube to MP3 Website, and the downloading of that file from the internet to a computer.
File Sharing - This Website provides information on file sharing such as what it is and the illegal use of file sharing.
RIAA - This Website represents the Recording Industry Association of America. The Website explains why downloading music is illegal and how it hurts the music industry.
Downloading Copyrighted Music - This Website provides an overview of downloading copyrighted music and the consequences that can occur.
File Sharing - This Website provides information on file sharing such as what it is and the illegal use of file sharing.
RIAA - This Website represents the Recording Industry Association of America. The Website explains why downloading music is illegal and how it hurts the music industry.
Downloading Copyrighted Music - This Website provides an overview of downloading copyrighted music and the consequences that can occur.
This video is about a music editor explaining how illegal music downloading hurts the music industry.
Pirating Software - When software which has been duplicated and distributed without authorization.
This video provides facts and the numbers associated with pirating software.
What is Pirated Software - This Website provides information on what software piracy is, how it is done, and ways to report the problem.
Consequences of Pirating Software
What is Pirated Software - This Website provides information on what software piracy is, how it is done, and ways to report the problem.
Consequences of Pirating Software
Creating Viruses - A software program capable of reproducing itself and usually capable of causing great harm to files or other programs on the same computer.
Types of Computer Viruses - This Website provides information on the different types of viruses that can be created to cause harm to you or your computer.
Virus: A Retrospective - This Website provides the consequences of creating and releasing a virus.
Types of Computer Viruses - This Website provides information on the different types of viruses that can be created to cause harm to you or your computer.
Virus: A Retrospective - This Website provides the consequences of creating and releasing a virus.
Hacking - Unauthorized use of computer and network resources.
Stealing Someones Identity - When someone pretends to be someone else in order to access their personal information such as social security number, credit card, etc. in order to obtain resources or benefits.
This video provides information on the types of identity theft and its consequences.
Copyright Infringement - The act of violating any of a copyright's exclusive rights given to them by the federal Copyright Act.
Copyright Infringement Penalties
Copyright Law - This Website provides the actual copyright law along with the different types of copyright infringements.
Copyright Infringement Penalties
Copyright Law - This Website provides the actual copyright law along with the different types of copyright infringements.
Teaching Digital Law
Schools should consider creating courses on digital citizenship. Middle school students should be required to take this course. It will be a foundation for the rest of their school career that they can use for the rest of their life. Realistically though, I believe schools still do not understand the importance of this subject. So before teachers begin a semester, they should always make sure students understand their rights as digital citizens. A quick pre-assessment such as a You Think You Know or a generated quiz online can give teachers a good idea of who does and does not understand their rights as digital citizens. Teachers can even go a step further and teach specific contents of digital citizenship, such as digital law. Personally, I think digital law is the most important aspect of digital citizenship. Everyday you hear news of someone stealing someones identity, creating viruses, and copyright infringement lawsuits. We all even know someone who downloads music illegally. To stop this ongoing battle, we must teach younger generations about digital law. Students are 21st century learners, surrounded by new technology that they use everyday. If they do not know the digital law, they are most likely breaking it. Students and teachers can view the resources up top to learn about digital law. Also, below are a few resources integrated into a lesson or shared with students to help teach this important concept.
This video provides ways to protect yourself against viruses, malware, spyware, pop-ups, and hackers.
Above is a screencast describing the steps to creating a Creative Commons License.
Additional Links to Resources
Digital Law - This Website provides teachers with an overview and description of digital law, background, social/ethical aspects, possible solutions, and guidelines for teenagers.
Digital Citizenship by Kevin Stark is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.