Re: IP: House Moves to Protect Kids on Web

[David Farber <dfarber () earthlink net>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Esther Dyson <edyson () edventure com>
Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 03:01:37 
To: farber () cis upenn edu
Subject: Re: IP: House Moves to Protect Kids on Web

good grief!  Why don't they get it? Most murders are not "chat room 
murders" but "automobile murders," since most of the murderers arrive on 
the scene and depart in automobiles.  Let's start legislating to save 
ourselves from the scourge of automobiles. At least we need responsible 
adults overseeing the use of these killer cars.  (This of course is beyond 
deaths caused by automobile *crashes,* another thing the gov should look 
into again. Maybe they should start a Federal program to design better autos.)

(If there's any doubt, above is a joke. Unfortunately, the item below is not.)

Esther Dyson

At 01:47 PM 5/22/2002, you wrote:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: "John F. McMullen" <observer () westnet com>
> Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 13:39:27
> To: johnmacsgroup () yahoogroups com
> Subject: House Moves to Protect Kids on Web
>
> Protect? Or Censor? Can It Be Effective? Or Just Window Dressing To
> 'Please the Folks Back Home'? Was this billing in planning or just a
> knee-jerk reaction to the Connecticut tragedy? Is ACLU opposition
> well-thought out? Or Just Knee-Jerk? How will the Federal Government
> "oversee"? Is this just step 1 for the Federal Government "overseeing the
> Internet"? How old will kids be when they want to bolt from .kids and talk
> about sex? Will Parents think that this is the total answer (it's not;
> parents are the untimate answer; this may or may not help)?
>
> A lot of questions --
>
> From the Chicago Tribune --
> http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-internet-children0522may22.story
>
> House Moves to Protect Kids on Web
> By DENNIS CONRAD
> Associated Press Writer
>
> WASHINGTON -- Citing the recent death of a Connecticut child who
> apparently fell victim to a man she met online, the House voted
> overwhelmingly to establish a new domain for kid-friendly Web sites and to
> expand wiretap authority to target Internet predators.
>
> The domain measure, approved on a 406-2 vote, would have the federal
> government oversee a ".kids.us" domain on the Internet that would have
> only material appropriate for children under 13. Web site operators'
> participation would be voluntary. Parents could set computer software to
> limit a child's access to only addresses ending in .kids.us.
>
> Lawmakers cited the death of Christina Long, a sixth-grader from Danbury,
> Conn., in urging passage of both bills. Police say she was strangled and
> her body dumped in a ravine by a 25-year-old man she met in an Internet
> chat room.
>
> "Sometimes I think the World Wide Web should be renamed the World's Wicked
> Web," said Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich.
>
> Supporters of the domain bill, sponsored by Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., say
> it should reduce the chance of accidental exposure to pornography and to
> other Web sites considered harmful to children, and it would not provide
> any access to interactive features, such as chat rooms.
>
> Groups opposing the domain, including the American Civil Liberties Union,
> have called the legislation a backdoor attempt at censorship.
>
> Shimkus said parents need to be aware of what Web sites their children are
> surfing.
>
> "I have repeatedly said that libraries have children's book sections, why
> can't the Internet have the same type of section devoted to children's
> interests?" he said.
>
> Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., plans to introduce a similar bill in the
> Senate, according to a spokesman.
>
> The wiretap measure, approved 396-11, would allow investigators to seek
> wiretaps for suspected sexual predators to help block physical meetings
> between molesters and children they meet via the computer.
>
> "The threat to our children is real," its chief sponsor, Rep. Nancy
> Johnson, R-Conn., said.
>
> Wiretaps could be authorized for people suspected of engaging in child
> pornography, of trying to get children to perform sexual acts for money or
> of traveling to or bringing children for sexual activity.
>
> Rep. Robert Scott, D-Va., argued against expanding wiretap authority,
> voicing concerns that even current limited use by law enforcement
> typically results in overhearing innocent conversations.
>
> "It ought to be necessary," he said of wiretapping authority. "It's not
> enough for it to be helpful for law enforcement."
>
> Rep. George Gekas, R-Pa., a former prosecutor, countered that safeguards
> against potential abuse would be in place because a court would determine
> whether any wiretap should proceed.
>
> A similar wiretapping bill passed the House last year but died in the
> Senate.
>
> * __
>
> The bill numbers are H.R. 1877 and H.R. 3833.
>
> * __
>
> On the Net:
>
> American Civil Liberties Union: http://aclu.org
>
> Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov
>
> Copyright  2002, The Associated Press
>
>
>    "When you come to the fork in the road, take it" - L.P. Berra
>    "Always make new mistakes" -- Esther Dyson
>    "Be precise in the use of words and expect precision from others" -
>     Pierre Abelard
>                           John F. McMullen
>    johnmac () acm org ICQ: 4368412 Fax: (603) 288-8440 johnmac () cyberspace org
>                   http://www.westnet.com/~observer
>
> For archives see:
> http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/



Esther Dyson                    Always make new mistakes!
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writer, Release 3.0 (on Website below)
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