You haven't heard of the deliberative bus stop?  You're not aware of "civic fairs" in virtual worlds?  You're not sure whether or why we should care about groups? "Group" sounds like "mob" to your ears? 

Beth Noveck of New York Law School (where she directs the Institute for Information Law and Policy and the Democracy Design Workshop) is here to tell you how technology is enhancing the role of groups online, how legal frameworks could support the legitimacy of groups (and encourage deference to their decisions), and how we can harness the energy of groups to achieve democratic goals.

Prof. Noveck's draft is here [word doc].  Her email address is on the first page of the paper. I have it on good authority that she's interested in reactions and comments. 

Groups matter!  Prof. Noveck's article is a major contribution to thinking about the intersection between online life and law, and YOU, the group(s) out there, can help make it even better.