Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Criminalising essay mills will make a huge difference

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

I'm no friend of essay mills, but I have to say, I can't see criminalizing them as being a really good idea. I mean, after all, it basically amounts to criminalizing the practice of writing essays and selling them. Is it only me that sees the implications for freedom of speech (or of the press)? Will we also start prosecuting for other things a person might do with a published work? Do royalty-free image libraries also become illegal, because students use them on presentations? I know I'm being a little over the top here, but I really think criminal sanction against what is fundamentally an academic problem is real overreach.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Nov 21, 2024 3:10 p.m.

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