Government Can't Control Internet Porn
Courts Ruled on Thursday that Parental Control and Software Filters Are a Better Choice Than Government Control
The four-week long court case, in an 84-page decision, determined that the 1998 law, which would have made it illegal to allow children to view pornography and would have required a credit card number or some other means of verifying the viewers legal age status prior to viewing the content, was an outdated law, now that advance technology and software programs were available to parents.
Originally, the law could have imposed fines up to $50,000 and up to six months in prison for website operators who violated the law. In 2004, a temporary injunction against the 1998 law was granted, based on the premise that the likelihood of the law being struck down was great, and therefore, the law was put on hold.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was one of the loudest voices against the 1998 law, stating that the law, which was part of the Online Child Protection Act, was vague and could have a potentially devastating effect on free speech. Thursday, the judge agreed that free speech was more important in the scheme of things than this law, and that parents now had tools to protect their children from viewing anything on the internet that might 'cause harm.'
One of the problems with the law, and those speaking on the side of the pornography industry and website operators of pornographic material sites, was that the law that was established was only regulating United States based websites, and therefore, unfairly hurting pornographic internet business in the U.S.
Non-U.S. based pornographic websites did not have to comply with the U.S. laws for verifying a website viewer's age, and therefore, the argument was made that any child who wanted to view pornography could still do so, simply by access a website that was not based in the U.S.
In 1996, there was a law before congress to ban internet pornography in the U.S. completely, but the law never made it very far before, in1997, the proposed law was ruled unconstitutionally unfair to adult's rights.
In 2000, a law was passed that required educational facilities that taught minors to install filters to prevent access by students and staff to any websites with pornographic material, and that law was again upheld in 2003. Whether a law will be proposed to require the same of parents remains to be seen, but there is an indication that this may be proposed at some point in the future.
For now, the ruling has clearly established that the government cannot control internet pornography under the constitutional right to free speech, leaving the responsibility of protecting children from internet pornography in the hands of those responsible for raising the children.
Sources:
Published by Michy Lynn - Featured Contributor in Health & Wellness
Michy is an author & freelance writer, with a penchant for fiction, creative nonfiction and topics that pique her passion: alternative medicine, animals & pets, love & relationships, and her all-time favorit... View profile
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22 Comments
Post a CommentI expect many laws to change in the internet age - it'll be interesting to see how it all pans out.
This issue is not as tough as it seems, what is special about your article, is that while tackling very large issues, you present them as real and sensible. That took some doing since this particular subject tends to put people off, but it shouldn't, world wide Victoria's Secret is running ads which are rather risque' on television- the step across to poor taste in porn isn't far- which tells you that the morale fabric is fading, everywhere. Make them porn puppies use the .xxx though - that should be step one - without a doubt! -Dana
I agree that it should be the parents' responsibility, although it's difficult with porn being so pervasive on the Internet. (I don't want to keep my kids offline entirely; they need computer skills, too!) My frustration is that the courts seem to continue to say things are parents' responsibilities in some areas but frequently make decisions that undermine parents' authority over their children in many other areas!
Parents today let their kids do too much cause they have a hands off approach. Kids are not monitored as much today as they were when I was growing up.
Great article. I think ultimately it's our responsibilty as parents to monitor what our kids are viewing.
Theinternet really is like the wild wild west.
Seems like a no-brainer decision for the court. America has always stuck by the first amendment and "I disagree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." That has stuck whether it's been flag burning, offensive speech, or disgusting expression. That's what makes us a great free nation. I don't see why anybody would change their standard because they don't like what's being expressed.
Parents need to take a more up front role in what their kids see and do. I made sure I had all my daughters information, passwords ect..before she could go online. The computer stays in the family room where I can monitor everywhere she goes.
Its tough, its hard to keep anything away from kids these days. There is way to much exposure to violence and sex all over the place. Its not just the internet but its a main source.
As it should be.