Book Reviews

Review of “Virtually Obscene: The Case for an Uncensored Internet”

Review by: Robert Sanfilippo Book by:  Amy E. White Summary: Virtually Obscene is divided into seven chapters. Chapter 1 provides an overview of what the Internet is, describing its origin, structure, and various attempts to regulate it. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the current obscenity standards in the United States and discusses the problems therein, while providing the author’s proposals and alternatives to the current standard. Chapter 3 discusses the First Amendment, particularly the freedom of speech clause and the arguments surrounding it, as well as the author’s reasons why freedom of speech does not protect Internet obscenity. Chapters 4, 5, and 6, introduce and analyze the arguments of Internet obscenity and its harm to children, women and the moral environment, respectively. Chapter 7 concludes with a discussion of why Internet obscenity regulation is “a bad idea.”

Review of “Who Controls The Internet: Illusions of a Borderless World”

By Robert Sanfilippo Summary: This book is divided into an introduction and three main parts. The Introduction discusses the popular search engine Yahoo!, and its battles with the French Government regarding Nazi memorabilia posted on its auction website. Part 1 discusses the origin of the Internet, what the Internet entails and the major players involved in the belief that it should transcend territorial law. Part 2 describes government efforts to control and regulate the Internet. Part 3 provides a balance between the benefits and disadvantages of government control of the Internet and what is in store for future regulation.

Review of “Fake: Forgery, Lies & eBay”

By Elliot Fruchtman Summary: This book details Kenneth Walton’s involvement in fraudulent art auctions on eBay during the late 1990’s, which eventually led to his felony conviction and disbarment from the legal profession. Occurring during the early years of eBay, Walton and his associates used various tactics including “shill bidding,” deceptive descriptions, and forged paintings to defraud countless eBay buyers. Walton’s downfall occurred when he aroused the suspicions of the news media, the art world and the FBI by attempting to auction a thrift shop painting with the forged signature of Richard Diebenkorn.