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Oppose Internet Censorship
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Date: Fri, 8 May 1998 18:28:52 -0400
From: David Banisar
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RE-DISTRIBUTE WIDELY UNTIL MAY 31
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ACTION ALERT
American Civil Liberties Union Electronic Frontier Foundation Electronic Privacy Information Center
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OPPOSE GOVERNMENT-MANDATED INTERNET FILTERING!
HERE IS HOW TO SEND FREE FAXES TO YOUR SENATORS
The United States Senate may vote as early as the week of May 11 on the "Internet School Filtering Act" (S. 1619). The bill would require schools and libraries receiving federal Internet subsidies to install filtering software designed to prevent children from accessing "inappropriate" material.
The ACLU, EFF and EPIC are sponsoring an online campaign to oppose this measure. By visiting any of the following links, you can send faxes -- free of charge! -- to your two Senators:
http://www.aclu.org/congress/cybmarch.html
http://www.eff.org/blueribbon/
http://www.epic.org/free_speech/action/
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BACKGROUND
On March 12, the Senate Commerce Committee approved the "Internet School Filtering Act" (S. 1619). The bill would require schools and libraries receiving federal "e-rate" Internet subsidies to certify that they are using filtering software designed to prevent minors from accessing "inappropriate" material.
The filtering bill could come to the Senate floor as early as the week of May 11.
The bill raises serious constitutional questions. In a decision issued on April 7, a federal judge in Virginia rejected an effort to dismiss a challenge to Internet filtering at a public library, finding that "the Library Board may not adopt and enforce content- based restrictions on access to protected Internet speech" unless it meets the highest level of constitutional scrutiny.
Several studies have found that a great amount of valuable educational material is blocked by filtering programs. Some filtering systems even block access to web sites created by elementary schools for elementary school children. Filtering requirements are inconsistent with the goal of providing our children a rich educational experience and, when mandated by government, violative of the First Amendment.
Many local communities have decided that the best approach is one that emphasizes acceptable use policies and Internet education programs. They have rejected the use of filtering software as ineffective and contrary to educational objectives. They've decided to instill values rather than install filters. Tell Congress to leave this issue to local communities, and not to mandate a federal, one-size-fits-all filtering requirement.
Additional information on Internet filtering is also available at the Internet Free Expression Alliance website:
http://www.ifea.net
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