Following from the conjectures of Lawrence Lessig in Code 2.0 and the current fervor of the political race, a curious question presents itself. How important will the internet be to future elections, not as a tool for advertising, but as a topic of interest?
This election saw a candidate advertise in top tier video games while another candidate felt the deathgrip that the DMCA (which he supported) has on the concept of fair use as his ads were pulled from YouTube. As the law discovers its place in cyberspace, it will have to decide how much control it must exert, how much freedom it must allow, and how far its reach extends. These decisions will affect everyone. A candidate's position on how the government regulates the internet can be vital point of contention. Should the internet be taxed, how far do state and federal laws extend, and can the ideals and principles put forth by the constitution's framers (fair use, free speech, eminent domain, etc) survive in cyberspace against the near limitless control of corporations without the help of the courts.
