A congressionally appointed panel examining how to protect children from pornography on the Internet has decided against pushing filtering. The Commission on Child Online Protection said in its Oct. 20 report that existing technologies not only raise concern among advocates of free speech, but they fall short in their ability to distinguish between proper and improper text and images.
The 18-member commission urged that more research be conducted into software programs that block or filter questionable material. It also called on the adult entertainment industry to do a better job of regulating itself.
Senator John McCain (R-Az.), a proponent of Internet filtering, was sharply critical of the Commission and warned the White House to do nothing to defeat or weaken legislation that would require filtering in public schools and libraries if they received federal funds. The legislation was still in limbo at the time LSN went to press because it was tacked onto a spending bill that was not completed. All spending bills are expected to be completed and signed before Christmas, but a veto, or threatened veto, may sweep away many of the riders.
