"Following the September 11th attack, where the Al-Queda acquired bombmaking and terrorist knowledge over the internet, many lawmakers have proposed that an international body regulate the internet so that sites which provide information to terrorists cou

September 11th stands out vividely in my memory as a day that I would never forget. I remember watching the twin towers collapse repeatedly on TV as a 9th grader. Even though this terrorist act bring heartaches to all of us, we should not use it as an example to limit our freedom of speech.

Over the last decade, the popularity and usage of the internet have incrased dramatically. We use the internet to check the news, to socialize with our friends and families, to research for information, and to blog about our interests. The wide range of information that are available on the internet is the primary reason that the internet is so widely used. It has become another tool for freedom of the speech. Just like we don't limit what can be publish in print, we should not limit the content that can be posted on the internet.

Some might argue that information on the internet is easier to find than information in books. With google, we can search for "how to make a bomb" to quickly find a site that will teach us how to make a home made bomb. Even if the lawmakers eliminated this information online, it does not mean that this information is not available in another form. It is true that it might take the terrorist more time to locate the material; but it does not mean the terrorist will stop their acts of terror. Eliminating the information from the web only provides a bandaid to the problem of terrorism.

Moreover, who would be the governing body that will regulate the information on the internet? It would be extremely difficult to have one international body that has the power to determine the content on the web. How would the international body enforce its rules and affect punishments? Every country has different needs and financial capabilities. Thus, this governing body might not be even possible or effective.

All terrorist acts should be punished but I believe that eliminating bombmaking knowledge from the internet will not stop terrorism. Terrorists like the Al-Queda, will find the information on how to make a bomb regardless if the information is on the web. Consequently, we need to focus on solving the root of terrorism rather than focusing on removing content on the web.