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Censorship of speech on the Internet has spurred legal battles about filtering in public libraries as well as the Communications Decency Act, the Child Online Protection Act. And the First Amendment issues involved with filtering aren't keeping new legislation about censorware from being supported even today. Legal Cases Dealing With Filtering Congressional Acts Aimed at Online Pornography The Communications Decency Act (CDA) Child Online Protection Act (COPA) According to Censorware.org these legal battles are all actually "One battle over what people will be permitted to see and access. Government promotion of censorware is akin to banning books, but somehow the use of a software intermediary deflects some of the criticism that would normally accrue to such an action." Current Legislation HR.543 "Children's Internet Protection Act" - proposed February 3, 1999 by Rep Bob Franks (R-NJ) To require the installation and use by schools and libraries of a technology for filtering or blocking material on the Internet on computers with Internet access to be eligible to receive or retain universal service assistance. Current Status: Feb 24, 99 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
S.97 "Internet School Filtering Act" - proposed January 19, 1999 by Sen John McCain (R-AZ) To require the installation and use by schools and libraries of a technology for filtering or blocking material on the Internet on computers with Internet access to be eligible to receive or retain universal service assistance. Current Status: Mar 4, 99 Committee on Commerce. Hearings held.
HR. 896 "Childrens' Internet Protection Act" proposed January 19, 1999 by Rep Bob Franks To require the installation of a system for filtering or blocking matter on the Internet on computers in schools and libraries with Internet access, and for other purposes. Current Status: Mar 2, 99 Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
HR 368 "Safe Schools Internet Act of 1999" proposed March 2, 1999 by Rep Bob Franks To require the installation and use by schools and libraries of a technology for filtering or blocking material on the Internet on computers with Internet access to be eligible to receive or retain universal service assistance. (status) Jan 29, 99 Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection. S.2260 "Appropriations bill FY 99, Commerce, Justice, State" - proposed July 2, 1998 by Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) Current Status: passed July 1998 Sec. 210 - Prohibits universal telecommunications services from being provided to any elementary or secondary school unless its administrator has certified to the FCC that it has selected and installed a system for computers with Internet access which filters or blocks matter deemed inappropriate for minors. Prohibits such service with respect to a library having Internet access unless it certifies that it employs such a filtering or blocking system on one or more of its computers. Requires a library to notify the FCC within ten days after changing or terminating such a system. Requires the determination of what shall be considered inappropriate for minors to be made by the appropriate school, school board, library, or other responsible authority. Sec. 627 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require Internet access providers, at the time of entering into an agreement with a customer to offer Internet access service, to offer the customer (either for a fee or at no charge) screening software designed to limit access to Internet material that is harmful to minors.
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