~NeonFire372~
Golden Master
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Social networking could be banned in American schools and libraries if the US House of Representatives gets its way.
It's passed the Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA) by 410 votes to 15 and under the proposal, publicly funded organisations would be prevented, "from allowing young people to access sites that have chat rooms or 'social networking' elements," says The Register.
Adults would have to ask ask for permission to enter sites such as MySpace, favoured hunting grounds for online sexual predators.
DOPA was introduced by congressman Michael Fitzpatrick and covers federal institutions that received funding for computers and net access via the US E-Rate scheme - primarily schools and libraries.
The American Library Association (ALA) estimates that two-thirds of US libraries receive this funding, says the BBC, going on, "It requires these organisations to put in place filters to stop children viewing social networking sites where they might be subject to 'unlawful sexual advances'.
But opponents argue definitions in the law are so vague they could take in a, "vast array of existing commercial websites and damage the business potential of those sites and the research capabilities of schools and libraries," says The Register, adding:
"It will be left to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to decide what sites come under the control of the Act. Civil liberties groups are arguing in other legal disputes that the communications regulator already wields too much power."
But, "We think it is a very unwise bill," the Guardian Unlimited has Rick Weingarten, director of information technology at the American Library Association, saying, going on:
"The definition that they tried to cobble together covers an enormous range of very beneficial applications. By blocking access to those applications only in libraries and schools what they have done is to block access to those kids who have no other way to get access.
"People join these virtual groups for all sorts of beneficial reasons, including getting information or joining support groups ... You get in a morass every time you try to block technology."
Now MySpace has started an online petition called Save Your Space saying DOPA is against freedom of speech online.
"Perhaps the scariest part of this legislation is that no one involved appears to actually use the websites or resources in question," says the petition site.
"It is uncomfortable - to say the least - that those most unfamiliar with this form of communication are trying to seize control of it. Do they honestly believe that millions of people are predators? Or are they willing to punish millions of responsible people for the actions of just a few? We understand the need to protect children from predators, but we believe that this protection must first start in the home and not be mandated by the federal government. HR 5319 in its current form endangers every American's right to freedom of speech."
On freedom of speech ....
The thought that "those most unfamiliar with this form of communication are trying to seize control of it" resonates loudly.
Senator Ted Stevens, chairman America's Commerce Committee and, "one of Washington's leading players on technology policy," says the Net is a series of tubes and, "what happens to your own personal internet? I just the other day got ------ an internet was sent by my staff at 10 o'clock in the morning on Friday and I just got it yesterday. Why? Because it got tangled up with all these things going on the internet commercially."
But speaking of freedom of speech, Andrew Raff wrote and recorded a song based on Stevens' message and posted it on MySpace.
Raff admits his parody wasn't all that funny. But then, nor were Stevens' views.
Notwithstanding, "MySpace has deleted your profile because we received a credible complaint of your violation of the MySpace Terms of Services," says a MySpace termination statement addressed to Raff.
Hmmm. Wonder where the complaint originated?
"If we delete your account, it cannot be reinstated," adds MySpace.com.
"Thank you."
Source: http://news.kceasy.com/story/9681
It's passed the Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA) by 410 votes to 15 and under the proposal, publicly funded organisations would be prevented, "from allowing young people to access sites that have chat rooms or 'social networking' elements," says The Register.
Adults would have to ask ask for permission to enter sites such as MySpace, favoured hunting grounds for online sexual predators.
DOPA was introduced by congressman Michael Fitzpatrick and covers federal institutions that received funding for computers and net access via the US E-Rate scheme - primarily schools and libraries.
The American Library Association (ALA) estimates that two-thirds of US libraries receive this funding, says the BBC, going on, "It requires these organisations to put in place filters to stop children viewing social networking sites where they might be subject to 'unlawful sexual advances'.
But opponents argue definitions in the law are so vague they could take in a, "vast array of existing commercial websites and damage the business potential of those sites and the research capabilities of schools and libraries," says The Register, adding:
"It will be left to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to decide what sites come under the control of the Act. Civil liberties groups are arguing in other legal disputes that the communications regulator already wields too much power."
But, "We think it is a very unwise bill," the Guardian Unlimited has Rick Weingarten, director of information technology at the American Library Association, saying, going on:
"The definition that they tried to cobble together covers an enormous range of very beneficial applications. By blocking access to those applications only in libraries and schools what they have done is to block access to those kids who have no other way to get access.
"People join these virtual groups for all sorts of beneficial reasons, including getting information or joining support groups ... You get in a morass every time you try to block technology."
Now MySpace has started an online petition called Save Your Space saying DOPA is against freedom of speech online.
"Perhaps the scariest part of this legislation is that no one involved appears to actually use the websites or resources in question," says the petition site.
"It is uncomfortable - to say the least - that those most unfamiliar with this form of communication are trying to seize control of it. Do they honestly believe that millions of people are predators? Or are they willing to punish millions of responsible people for the actions of just a few? We understand the need to protect children from predators, but we believe that this protection must first start in the home and not be mandated by the federal government. HR 5319 in its current form endangers every American's right to freedom of speech."
On freedom of speech ....
The thought that "those most unfamiliar with this form of communication are trying to seize control of it" resonates loudly.
Senator Ted Stevens, chairman America's Commerce Committee and, "one of Washington's leading players on technology policy," says the Net is a series of tubes and, "what happens to your own personal internet? I just the other day got ------ an internet was sent by my staff at 10 o'clock in the morning on Friday and I just got it yesterday. Why? Because it got tangled up with all these things going on the internet commercially."
But speaking of freedom of speech, Andrew Raff wrote and recorded a song based on Stevens' message and posted it on MySpace.
Raff admits his parody wasn't all that funny. But then, nor were Stevens' views.
Notwithstanding, "MySpace has deleted your profile because we received a credible complaint of your violation of the MySpace Terms of Services," says a MySpace termination statement addressed to Raff.
Hmmm. Wonder where the complaint originated?
"If we delete your account, it cannot be reinstated," adds MySpace.com.
"Thank you."
Source: http://news.kceasy.com/story/9681