Section 15.1 Communicating in a Digital Society 363 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Electronic User’s Bill of Rights The Electronic User’s Bill of Rights details the rights and responsibilities of both individuals and institutions regarding the treatment of digital information. It was originally proposed in 1993 by Frank W. Connolly of American University. It is modeled after the original United States Bill of Rights, although it contains only four articles. The articles are not legally binding, but contain guidelines for the appropriate use of digital information. The articles in the Electronic User’s Bill of Rights include the following. • Article I: Individual Rights • Article II: Individual Responsibilities • Article III: Rights of Educational Institutions • Article IV: Institutional Responsibilities Article I: Individual Rights focuses on the rights and freedoms of the users of computers and the Internet. It states “citizens of the electronic community of learners” have the right to access computers and informational resources. They should be informed when their personal information is being collected. They have the right to review and correct the information that has been collected. Users should have freedom of speech and rights of ownership for their intellectual property. Article II: Individual Responsibilities focuses on the responsibilities that come with those rights outlined in Article I. A citizen of the electronic community is responsible for seeking information and using it effectively. It is also the individual’s responsibility to honor the intellectual property of others. This includes verifying the accuracy of information obtained electronically. A citizen of the digital community is expected to respect the privacy of others and use electronic resources wisely. Article III: Rights of Educational Institutions states the right of educational institutions to access computers and informational resources. Like individuals, an educational institution retains ownership of its intellectual property. Each institution has the right to use its resources as it sees fi t. Article IV: Institutional Responsibilities focuses on the responsibilities that come with the rights granted in Article III. Educational institutions are held accountable for the information they use and provide. Institutions are responsible for creating and maintaining “an environment wherein trust and intellectual freedom are the foundation for individual and institutional growth and success.”