May 20, 1999
Web posted at: 2:47 p.m. EDT (1847 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, May 20) -- Filtering software, already used by some parents to prevent children from accessing violent or sexual Web sites, could come into wider use on school computers under a proposal now before Congress.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee was holding a hearing Thursday on proposed legislation called The Children's Internet Protection Act.

It would require schools and libraries receiving federal subsidies for Internet connections to choose some type of blocking software, but they wouldn't necessarily have to install it.

The Children's Internet Protection Act would require schools that use federal funding for computers or Internet connections to obtain blocking software

Such software would "filter out objectionable material according to community standards, very much like a library board filters our written information and periodicals that they find offensive according to community standards," said Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona.

A 1998 survey found 39 percent of connected schools already use some type of filtering software on their computers.

But the American Library Association and the American Civil Liberties Union oppose making it mandatory.

McCain is in favor of giving schools access to blocking software

"The worst part about this bill is that it sets the precedent that the government can decide what library patrons, and in particular older minors in schools, can access the Internet for," says ACLU Associate Director Barry Steinhardt.

Critics also say the filtering software isn't perfect, so children can still access some unacceptable sites, while other perfectly legitimate sites are blocked.

As a compromise, the proposal backed by McCain says filters must be made available, but they aren't required.

In Virginia, the Loudoun County library system settled on a similar solution recently after its policy requiring filters on all Internet computers was found unconstitutional.

Now, a filter is put in place only if a parent requests it for his child. And most don't, according to Margaret Jackson, head of the library's reference services unit.

"A lot of the parents, I think, don't feel that their children are going to be doing anything that is going to cause them to get into a site that would be questionable, they're just doing it for homework," she told CNN.

While those on both sides of the issue insist filters are no substitute for parental supervision and guidance on avoiding the Web's dark side, the Internet industry is also being urged to police itself.

Critics of filters say blocking software can keep children from accessing legitimate sites

Major computer firms were asked Wednesday to purge the Internet of bombmaking instructions, arguing lethal information is too easy to access.

"No one has a constitutional right to use an Internet company's property to facilitate murder," said Dennis Saffran of the Center for the Community Interest. "Rather, the companies have the constitutional right -- and the moral obligation -- to stop this use of their property."

David Kaczynski, the brother of convicted Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski, said ready access to bombmaking sites can turn good kids bad.

"We're allowing every Eric Harris, every troubled kid out there, to become the next Tim McVeigh," Kaczynski said, referring to the Oklahoma City bomber.

Harris and fellow student Dylan Klebold stormed Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, on April 20, killing 12 students and a teacher before taking their own lives. Police later discovered that Harris had a Web site filled with bomb diagrams.

The advocates asked America Online, Microsoft, Walt Disney Co. -- which recently launched Go.com -- and Yahoo Inc!, to shut down bombmaking sites and remove any sites that threaten or encourage physical violence.

Saffran said if the companies refuse to act voluntarily, then his organization would ask crime victims to press for government intervention.

Officials with America Online, Yahoo and Go.com said they already prohibit such information. Microsoft did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

Reporter Kathleen Koch and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Thursday, May 20, 1999

• Senate passes juvenile crime bill
• Transcript: Senate Democrats, Gore celebrate 'gun-show loophole' vote
• Roll call on gun background checks
• Clinton praises Columbine students for keeping faith
• Senators pass $15 billion spending bill for Kosovo, storm victims, farmers
• Report: China benefited from stolen nuclear secrets
• Congress considers how to keep kids from Web's dark side
• House vote sends missile defense bill to president
• Mrs. Dole logs on for Web site chat
• Nebraska Legislature passes nation's first moratorium on executions
• President renominates Shelton as Joint Chiefs chairman
• House committee to schedule Social Security hearings
• Private school tax breaks measure clears Senate panel
• Clinton education plan denounced
• Alexander keeps going despite polls
• Forbes' New Hampshire campaign manager resigns
• Brother of presidential candidate sought by police

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