Internet Censorship

Flora Wan

Computer Science 99

Winter 2000

What can be found on the net?www.newdream.net/bored/messages/7699.html

www.dmoz.org/Computers/Hacking/Cracking/

www.asiadragons.com/indonesia/forum/messages/9486.html

Other examples: Pornography, illegal software, etc.

The Ethical Issues Columbine Shooting incident Heaven’s Gate UFO cult Children and pornography Encouraging hate and violence

Columbine

Shooting

Heaven’s Gate Cult

What is done about it now?

Administrators block web sites– University of Pittsburgh (www.antionline.com)

Internet filtering software – Cyber Patrol, Net Nanny, SurfWatch

How well does it work?

The Internet Filter Assessment Project– Committee of Librarians– Objectionable web sites found 78% of the time

even when filter is used to its full capacity– Valid information blocked 35% of the time

Sites that have been blocked

Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, Inc. Breast Cancer Legislation page Emergency Contraceptive Pills Stop Prisoner Rape SuperBowl XXX Mars Exploration The Starr Report Hotmail

What about “Freedom of Speech”?

The First Amendment

– Congress shall make no law . . . prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press . . .

Opportunity for freedom of speech in other politically repressed countries

What is different about the net? Unlike traditional media, the internet has no

regulation on who can broadcast material

Information goes beyond the borders–www.karlin.mff.cuni.cz/~mkec6264/suicide.htm

What can be done about it?

Cut down on illegal activities– Child pornography– Pirated Software

Individuals should be more aware of Information that can be found

Educate children

Conclusion

Internet content should not be censored:

– 1. Censoring blocks valuable information– 2. Free Speech – 3. Infeasible to regulate the World Wide Web