(Fwd) Porn and Public Access - Tx Telecom Jrnl (fwd)

["Karen A. Hatcher" <hatcher@selway.umt.edu>]

Here is both sides of a very challenging issue.
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 11:50:29 -0600 (CST)
>>From: Gene Crick <gcrick@tpoint.net>
>>To: Tx Telecom Journal Subscribers <gcrick@tpoint.net>
>>Subject: Porn and Public Access - Tx Telecom Jrnl
>>
>>
>>
>>  TTJ is a digest of news/analysis for telecommunications professionals
>>  Re-posting is allowed where appropriate, if full attribution included
>>  All Copyrights (1995-97) retained by Texas Telecommunications Journal
>>  =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
>>  Texas Telecommunications Journal                  volume 2, number 12
>>
>>
>>    INTERNET BLOCKING SOFTWARE: Porn, Politics and Public Access
>>
>>  The long-predicted controversy over pornography and public Internet
>>  access is gaining force.  And a center of that storm is Austin, Texas.
>>
>>  Simply put, the conflict arises between those who would restrict access
>>  to unsuitable sites and those who oppose censored access to cyberspace.
>>  Both views have merit; both are strongly held...  a showdown is coming.
>>
>>  The bits hit the fan when an Austin library worker wrote city government
>>  charging public library patrons were using free access terminals to view
>>  and download pornographic materials. Incidents were alleged of obscenity
>>  and possible child pornography at branch library public net terminals.
>>
>>  In prompt response to these allegations, library officials installed
>>  CyberPatrol software, restricting access to pornography and, according
>>  to many angry patrons, blocking legitimate access to valid information;
>>  a tall stack of consumer complaints about CyberPatrol quickly mounted.
>>
>>  [Austin library managers don't like imposing blocking software but feel
>>  they have no choice given the prevailing political and legal realities.]
>>
>>  Their action made front page news and is now actively debated across the
>>  Internet.  Other Texas cities, including Houston and Dallas, reportedly
>>  are postponing action until some precedents are set in Austin.  Even
>>  Boston (Mass) is delaying their previously announced installation of
>>  blocking software in hope someone, somewhere will find a better answer.
>>
>>                                 * * *
>>
>>  On one side of the debate are library and government concerns about
>>  allowing Internet access to illegal materials, including:  obscenity,
>>  child pornography, and content harmful to minors.  (One library union
>>  rep also warns the Internet could cause sexual harassment of workers.)
>>
>>  City libraries are mindful of the obligation to protect youthful patrons
>>  from exposure to harmful or obscene Internet content.  And they are wary
>>  of litigants claiming they fell short in providing this protection. City
>>  administrators also fear the political risks of seeming soft on porn.
>>
>>  These concerns are so strong that when challenged, the city's lawyers
>>  sounded dire warnings of liability for online content; their first
>>  inclination was to tell the library to shut down its Internet terminals.
>>
>>  On the other hand blocking software imposes very real limits on library
>>  information access.  Current products like CyberPatrol do keep patrons
>>  from many objectionable sites.  But their methods also deny access to
>>  valid educational, political and informational content.
>>
>>  Representatives of EFF-Austin and the American Civil Liberties Union are
>>  sympathetic to the library's pressures but believe CyberPatrol threatens
>>  First Amendment freedoms, thus is not an acceptable long-term solution.
>>  Unless a better choice is found, free speech lawsuits are almost certain.
>>
>>  Austin Public Library Director Brenda Branch is in a difficult position,
>>  caught between competing pressures and potential litigation.  She notes
>>  she is trying to balance three goals in her Internet access policies:
>>    - offering as much unrestricted information access as possible
>>    - protecting minors in the community from harmful influence
>>    - protecting staff from legal liability and sexual harassment
>>
>>  In search of a solution, a "Roundtable" task force has been formed, with
>>  representatives from library management, city government, library board,
>>  parent groups, library staff (union), EFF-Austin, ACLU, Austin Free-Net
>>  and the Metropolitan Austin Interactive Network.  This team is working
>>  to find mutually acceptable answers - somewhere other than a courtroom.
>>  The hope is to replace CyberPatrol with a better answer within 30 days.
>>
>>  Like a canary in a mineshaft, Austin is paying the price of leadership.
>>  Regardless of its outcome, the free speech vs. content safeguard debate
>>  in this city is certain to set landmark legal precedents for Cyberspace.
>>
>>                                 * * *
>>
>>  FOR MORE INFORMATION:
>>  EFF-A president David Smith is a contributor to Texas Telecom Journal.
>>  His online summary of this topic is at www.realtime.net/~bladex/apl.htm
>>  includes linked news coverage (NY Times, etc) and information summaries.
>>
>>  Other relevant reference sites:
>>  CyberPatrol critique - www.peacefire.org/censorware/cyber_patrol.html
>>  Blocked sites - www.canucksoup.net/CYBERWHY.HTM.
>>  Beating blockers - "Accessing Forbidden Web Sites" - www.boardwatch.com
>>  CyberPatrol features - www.microsys.com/cp_demo/default.htm
>>  Blocking categories - www.microsys.com/cyber/cp_block.htm
>>  Boston software blocking project - world.std.com/~kip/menino.html
>>  Another Boston reference - links leading from www.boston.com/globe/met/
>>  General - "Libraries: Next Net Battleground" www.msnbc.com/news/59363.asp
>>
>>
>>                                                          19 March, 1997
>>
>>   =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
>>   Note: TTJ is a journal of information, opinion and telecom advocacy.
>>         We cannot guarantee accuracy of these early, informal reports;
>>         please check with official sources to confirm critical results.
>>         Subscribers may request details or forward specific questions.
>>   Subscription info: Gene Crick gcrick@main.org 512/303-1021 fx 321-3163
>>
>
>
Karen A. Hatcher
Dean of Library Services
Mansfield Library
University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812-1195