Introducing this topic were Dr Frank Langbein and Dr Peter Burnap from the School of Informatics and Computer Sciences at Cardiff University. Dr Burnap examined issues relating to political control and the internet, including the attempts of governments (e.g. in China and North Africa) to restrict access to the internet, and particularly to services like Twitter. He also examined some ethical and political implications of the activities of Wikileaks. Does access to the internet and the possibilities it creates for the release of information further the cause of democracy?

Social networking and open-sourcing are two other aspects of how the internet is being used which many have significant social implications. Dr Langbein looked at how open source and peer-to-peer networking are changing how we thinkg about concepts of ownership, and whether services like Facebook are helping us find new friends and change our assumptions about friendship, or just helping us âsellâ our friends to advertisers.

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