Call for Papers International Journal of Information Ethics (IJIE) Special issue: Search Engines
Introduction: Search engines are the most used online services in the WWW. Since their first development in the midst of the 1990s they have become the most important tools for the majority of Internet users. The advantage of using search engines is that great, that there is almost no discussion about their moral dimension, although recent studies pointed out some problems (i.e. Machill et al. 2003). The forthcoming special issue of the IJIE should help to close this gap. Possible Topics: Please regard the following list as a mere suggestion. 1. Transparency 2. Filtering and (self-imposed) Censorship 3. Spamming and Manipulating 4. Next Generation and Alternatives On Topic 2 - Filtering and (self-imposed) Censorship: Most search engines use filter-technologies to maintain their online service. They may be used to block websites because of technical problems (i.e. when the website no longer exists), but also because of their content. Because of the general importance of search engines in the WWW, one might call this last form of filtering (self-imposed) censorship. This form of censorship, censorship taken as a technical term for blocking unwanted content, may be regarded as desirable in certain aspects, for it may be used, for instance, to block morally unacceptable content or making it not to easy to get illegal copies. >>From the perspective of Information Ethics it might be asked, if there is a reasonable distinction between acceptable and not acceptable forms of (self-imposed) censorship. Might there even be a moral duty for certain forms of censorship? And visa versa might their be a moral duty to make certain content public? Shall there be a duty to provide information about the criteria of censorship? How about localized version of search engines? May filtering be considered as a sign of respect for the local tradition of dealing with knowledge? The Rules of the Game: Potential authors have to provide an extended abstract (max. 1500 words) until 31/01/2005 . The abstract should be written in the mother tongue of the author. An English translation of this abstract has to be included, if the chosen language is not English or German. The IJIE will publish articles in German, English, Spanish, French or Portuguese. The abstracts will be selected by members of the editorial board of the IJIE. The authors will be informed at latest until 29/02/2005. All articles will be peer-reviewed. Deadline for submitting full text is 30/04/2005. For a longer version of this Call see: http://www.ijie.org Contact: Dr. Michael Nagenborg (Karlsruhe) manages the special issue as guest editor. Please send the extended abstract by e-mail to: [email protected] For any further questions, contact Michael Nagenborg by e-mail or phone (+49 721 3545955). _________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org/ Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://agd.polylog.org/cal/
