"There's mounting evidence that the Internet's good old days as a global cyber-zone of freedom -- where governments generally take a 'hands off' approach -- may be numbered...The threat a patchwork of international laws poses for online vendors and the growth of e-commerce arises from the fact that compliance with 190 different legal codes would be confusing, costly, and technically impossible for all but the most well-heeled firms. A Web site operator's only option would be to conform its online speech or commercial activities to the most restrictive laws on the planet to ensure global compliance. If you like the idea of Zimbabwe's dictator du jour setting libel standards for everyone on Earth, this sort of lowest common denominator regulation is the legal regime for you."