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Bobby Approved (v 3.2)
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Joint Statement Opposing Legislative Requirements for School and Library Internet Blocking Technologies

Joint Statement Media Release Organizing Tools
Organizational Endorsers Media Coverage Email Lists
Individual Endorsers Media Contacts Related Publications

Joint Statement Opposing Legislative Requirements for School and Library Internet Blocking Technologies

With the United States Congress' passage of legislation requiring the use of Internet blocking technologies in all public schools and libraries participating in certain federal programs, it has become clear that these schools and libraries are facing a variety of challenges.

The following individuals and organizations oppose mandatory Internet blocking technology requirements in public schools and libraries because blocking technologies:

  • Underblock what they are supposed to block
  • Overblock what they are not supposed to block
  • Rely on subjective "expert" control
  • Are error-prone, vulnerable, problematic, and unfairly discriminatory
  • Deny access to constitutionally protected and educationally important materials that schools and libraries would otherwise provide

We also believe government-mandated censorship does not solve problems better handled through local decision making and educational efforts.

The undersigned organizations and individuals commit to working together on the legal challenges to legislation requiring Internet blocking technology.

We commit to a public education campaign on the effects of blocking technology on online access, free speech rights, and civil liberties of students and library patrons. We commit to sharing effective strategies to assist young people in learning to use the Internet safely and effectively to enhance their education.

We will share our research and documentation and will provide educational materials and consulting services to school and library administrators, the general public, and the media. Our goal is to educate everyone potentially affected by the operation of Internet blocking technology in public schools and libraries, regardless of the outcome of legal challenges to legislative requirements for the use of Internet blocking technology.

Any individuals or organizations in agreement with this joint statement are welcome to sign on by sending an email to statement@onlinepolicy.org.

Organizational Endorsers--

Individual Endorsers--

(asterisk indicates endorsement is from individual with organization listed only for purposes of identification)

This statement is available at http://www.onlinepolicy.org/about/network/statement.shtml and mirrored at http://www.ncac.org/issues/cipa.html and at http://www.eff.org/Censorship/Censorware/
20010117_joint_censorware_statement.html
.

Organizing Tools

Don't CHIP Away Our Civil Liberties. Stop Internet Blocking in Schools and Libraries.
Direct Action
Express your views on legislation requiring Internet blocking in schools and libraries: demonstrate at federal buildings, schools, libraries and blocking technology companies, and display animated banners and blackout your website.

Media Release

Contacts for Media Interviews

Speakers' Bureau

Blocking Technology Discussions Lists Established
Join one of the Internet blocking technology discussion email lists, for general discussions, for library-related discussions, or for school-related discussions, Online Policy Group, January 27, 2001

Media Coverage

*   Supreme Court to Hear Web Porn Case
The Supreme Court said Tuesday it will decide if public libraries can be forced to install software that blocks sexually explicit Web sites, the latest in Congress' string of attempts to shield children from Internet pornography, Associated Press via ABC News.com (November 12, 2002)

*   Filter-Free Access to Internet OK'd By Buffalo-Area Board
Internet access in the 52 public libraries in Buffalo and Erie County will remain free and unrestricted to users after a decision Thursday by library officials to keep filters off library computers, Buffalo News (July 19, 2002)

*   High Court to Consider Net Filters
The Bush administration renewed its legal fight against Internet pornography on Thursday, asking the Supreme Court to permit Congress to pressure public libraries to block sexually explicit Web sites, Associated Press via New York Times (June 20, 2002)

*   Bush Presses Supremes on Filters
The Bush administration renewed its legal fight against Internet pornography on Thursday, asking the Supreme Court to permit Congress to pressure public libraries to block sexually explicit websites, Associated Press via Wired News (June 20, 2002)

*   Bush Administration Appeals Internet-Pornography Ruling to Supreme Court
The Bush administration renewed its legal fight against Internet pornography on Thursday, asking the Supreme Court to permit Congress to pressure public libraries to block sexually explicit websites, Associated Press via Mercury News (June 20, 2002)

Recent Coverage

Organizations and Related Publications

*   U.S. Supreme Court Considers Internet Blocking in Libraries
The Online Policy Group (OPG) and software expert Seth Finkelstein today submitted a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court supporting a lower court decision that the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) places unconstitutional limitations on free speech of library patrons by requiring the use of technology protection measures in libraries receiving certain federal funding or discounts, Online Policy Group (February 10, 2003)
   *

*   Children's Internet Protection Act Unconstitutional
A federal appeals court ruled that the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is unconstitutional because it requires libraries to violate the First Amendment rights of their patrons, Online Policy Group (May 31, 2002)

*   Internet Filters -- A Public Policy Report
In the spring and summer of 2001, the Free Expression Policy Project of the National Coalition Against Censorship surveyed all of the studies and tests that it was able to locate describing the actual operation of 19 products or software programs that are commonly used to filter out World Wide Web sites and other communications on the Internet, Free Expression Policy Project (October 1, 2001)

*   Cyber Liberties Threatened by Congress, Say Civil Rights Activists
As a special report to the Online Policy Group, Sara Nordin discusses the various sides of CHIPA, Online Policy Group (June 9, 2001)

*   Who Is E-Mailing Our Kids Act
A bill proposed by Felix Grucci, Jr. (R-NY) would require schools and libraries recieving E-rate funding to block anonymous web and emailing services, Online Policy Group (May 16, 2001)

Recent Publications

Joint Statement Media Release Organizing Tools
Organizational Endorsers Media Coverage Email Lists
Individual Endorsers Media Contacts Related Publications

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