The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created problems that did not exist before. What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and what solutions can you suggest?

There is no doubt that the

internet

has revolutionised communication and information-sharing in the same way that the telegraph and the television did before it.

However

, societies have had to cope with unanticipated new problems, including crimes which traditional laws are powerless to prevent.

This

essay will address some of the illegal acts enabled by the

internet

and propose solutions.

To begin

with, the global scale of the

internet

means that national laws are no longer adequate to control what happens online. Take restrictions on legal reporting,

for example

. In some countries, the media is prohibited from revealing details of a defendant’s past in case

this

prejudices a fair trial.

However

,

such

restrictions are no longer enforceable now that information may be freely published in other countries and accessed by all. The only solution here, it seems, is to adopt global standards. Since the

internet

traverses national borders, the flow of information can only be controlled if all nations agree on what can and cannot be shared. Another problem concerns

anonymity

Suggestion

anonymously

, as

internet

users can easily conceal their identity and even impersonate others. Many crimes

such

as identity theft and child abuse result from the ease with which criminals can operate anonymously online. Some have proposed a system of online identification, similar to a passport, which would allow all

internet

users to be verified and traced. I believe

this

idea should be explored

further

, though there are clearly concerns about the security of those who use the

internet

to protest against oppressive regimes. In conclusion, the only long-term solution to the problem of

internet

crime is greater international cooperation. Since the problem is global is

scale

Suggestion

scalar

, the solution must

also

be global. A new agency of the United Nations should be created to tackle the problems described here