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Title:

Influencing Internet Legislative Changes: Why and How

Your vote:
Yes No
Organizer:
Sachin Agarwal, Dawdle.com
Description:
New and proposed legislation can significantly affect the ways we communicate, conduct business, and create content online. Some legislation may even put companies out of business or ruin livelihoods by favoring certain parties over others. We'll discuss the most effective tools and techniques to follow and influence legislation.
Questions
Answered:
  1. How can I learn about and follow legislation, at both the federal and state levels?
  2. What are the technical tools that I can use to be more effective?
  3. Why is it important to influence legislation, in addition to up/down efforts?
  4. How can I find the influencers?
  5. How do I determine who I should approach?
  6. What techniques work best in influencing legislation?
  7. What language is important when trying to gain influence?
  8. How can I measure my effectiveness when working with legislators and lobbying parties?
  9. How can I attract and retain other supporters to my cause?
  10. What groups can I join and support to make sure that my beliefs are heard?
Level:
Advanced
Category:
Human / Social Issues
Type:
Panel
Event:
SXSW Interactive 2009
Sachin Agarwal
on 8/8/08
In the last few years, more and more legislation has been introduced specifically affecting our online activities. While much of the focus has been on Net Neutrality - and with damn good reason - there are other, less publicized acts that could affect the way we conduct ourselves online.

There are laws in state and federal legislatures right now dealing with online anonymity, SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), intellectual property, identification cards, fair use rights, DRM, online commerce, and of course, internet taxation.

On July 30, 2008, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act was passed. The act, in part, mandates that institutions like PayPal report those who receive over $20,000 or over 200 transactions in a calendar year to the IRS. What that has to do with subprime loans, I don't know, but it passed. Did you know about it?

This panel will discuss the various tools and techniques for how to stay abreast of potential legislative changes and how to get involved to make sure that your voice is heard. The panel will have experts on Net Neutrality, online commerce, online privacy, and online political organizing.
Micky Hingorani
on 9/8/08
Looking forward to it.
Ross Kimbarovsky
on 14/8/08
Looking forward to hearing about all of these changes. An increasingly regulated Internet is fraught with risk and it's important to understand how the regulation affects all of us.
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Developed for SXSW by Lindsey Simon