CMP's Internet Evolution 'ThinkerNet' Blogosphere Presents Andrew Keen, Leading Web 2.0 Critic Who Warns Against the Consequences of Internet Anonymity

Internet Evolution's Provocative Blogosphere Features Keen and 100 World- Famous Internet Experts

PRNewswire
MANHASSET, N.Y.
Feb 21, 2008

MANHASSET, N.Y., Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- CMP's Internet Evolution (http://www.internetevolution.com/), a Web 2.0 site dedicated to investigating the future of the Internet, today published an opinion article on the topic of Internet Anonymity by Andrew Keen, Silicon Valley author, broadcaster, entrepreneur and Internet critic. Keen's contribution to Internet Evolution follows an announcement earlier this month that the site has reached 100 world-famous Internet experts on its ThinkerNet blogosphere.

In his article entitled "The Curse of Internet Anonymity," (http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=556&doc_id=146514) Keen discusses how an Internet inhabited by anonymous characters has profoundly dangerous long-term consequences. Vulgar and irresponsible anonymous users are souring public discourse, corrupting message boards as well as establishing a bilious online world of vitriol and insult. By doing away with the human element on the Internet, Keen believes users no longer treat each other respectfully on the Internet.

Keen's provocative book, Cult of the Amateur: How the Internet is killing our culture, was recently acclaimed by The New York Times' Michiko Kakutani as "shrewdly argued" and written "with acuity and passion." Keen is also a pioneering Silicon Valley media entrepreneur, having founded Audiocafe.com in 1995 and built it into a well known first-generation Internet music company.

"As more of the world comes online, an intense battle over the legitimacy of anonymity is raging on between the Internet communities. Andrew's article outlines the issues of this controversial and timely topic and provides us with ideas on how we can shape the future of the Internet," said Stephen Saunders, Internet Evolution creator and blogger. "Our expert bloggers continue to produce lively discussions among readers."

Keen joins more than 100 world-famous Internet contributors, such as Kevin Mitnick, once the most wanted computer hacker in the world; Dr. Lawrence Roberts, inventor of packet switching, and one of the world's foremost authorities on telecom network architectures; Jack Uldrich, futurist, scholar and author; Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist.com; David Weinberger, Technologist and co-author of The Cluetrain Manifesto; Howard Schmidt, Former White House cybersecurity adviser; and Norman J. Ornstein, Political scientist and a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), all of whom are addressing today's critical socio-economic issues.

About CMP

CMP (http://www.cmp.com/) is a media and marketing solutions company serving the technology industry. With the leading online, event and print brands in all technology market categories, and with services and tools that reach beyond traditional advertising, CMP shapes and influences the technology industry worldwide. CMP publishes highly respected media brands such as TechWeb, InformationWeek, ChannelWeb, CRN, EE Times and TechOnline; produces major industry events such as Interop, Web 2.0 Expo, XChange, Game Developers Conference and the Embedded Systems Conferences; and provides business information and marketing services such as the International Customer Management Institute, Semiconductor Insights and Second Life consulting for technology marketers. CMP is a subsidiary of United Business Media (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/), a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $3 billion. For more CMP news, go to cmp.com/news.

CONTACT: Alix Raine
           CMP
           516-562-7827
           araine@cmp.com

SOURCE: CMP

CONTACT: Alix Raine of CMP, +1-516-562-7827, araine@cmp.com

Web site: http://www.cmp.com/
http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/
http://www.internetevolution.com/

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