Why should the Internet be free? All those new software programmes and those big servers all cost money. And if you want content don’t you think someone should be rewarded

Beckett, Charlie

LSE Research Online

bazalgette_peter.jpg2008-10-20Content For Free? Learn to love Big Brotherblogs.lse.ac.uk /polis/2008/10/20/content-for-free-learn-to-love-big-brother/Why should the Internet be free? All those new software programmes and those big servers all costmoney. And if you want content don’t you think someone should be rewarded?But what with? Monetising the Internet is tough because web surfers don’t like to pay an entry fee or a cover price.They don’t particularly look at banner adverts and those little pre-roll videos are seen with great irritation. So howabout trading your privacy?Media entrepreneur Peter Bazalgette was the man who brought Big Brother to Britainand thence to the world. He wants the Internet to be a place where creative people canprofit.In a speech to Polis he will argue that we should trade our right to Online privacy as the price for providing theincredible riches of the Internet. We should give a bit of personal information to retailers and service providers sothey can sell us stuff. But he fears that the Government’s obsession with monitoring online terrorism may put thepublic off this happy arrangement.Gus Hosein, who is a visiting fellow at the LSE and Privacy International will be arguing against.The debate is in the New Theatre, Houghton Street at 5.00-7.00. Email us at polis@lse.ac.uk to reserve a seat.Copyright © 2014 London School of Economics and Political Science1/1

Content for free? Learn to love Big Brother

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