BUS: computer file-exchanging

I. Issue and reason

We chose the problem of file-exchanging program as our topic. We found that this is now becoming a big problem of violating copyright laws by exchanging music, comics, movies, etc. without paying or permission. Also, this problem might lead to another problem—the outflow private or secret data.

II. Causes

The following three factors cause people to use exchange programs even though they know it’s illegal:

1) All these exchanging programs are free, so there’s no need to pay a lot of money for music or movies.

2) Second, it is easy to do. Even people who are not too familiar with computers can use these programs without much difficulty.

3) The last factor is there are billions of people using these programs, so people don’t believe that they could be arrested. Therefore, by continuing to use these programs, consciousness that it’s a crime becomes lower and lower.

III. Solutions

To solve this problem, we need to plan for it in the long-term.

1) First, the Japanese government needs to train young politicians familiar with computers or the internet to correspond to such file exchanging software. Currently, there are few people in the government or Ministry of Justice who have a lot of knowledge about computers and the internet.

2) Another solution is to legalize all these file-exchanging programs, but have the government regulate them. If the government manages the programs, it will be very easy to expose the illegal downloading. Even if any new exchanging programs appeared, the government could warn the developer to mediate the government’s computer or he will be arrested.