IP: Where did that 1 st ammendment go -- maybe far far away -- POLICING THE WEB

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

[ Two things, one in the misguided assumption that the Internet harms children , they will quietly start taking away 
everyone rights. Clearly scanning mail will give intelligence of plots and keeping information about "radical" groups  
off the net will keep children from thinking evil thoughts. Why do I think other governments  have said the same things 
as they started destroying liberty. 

Also I am sure that the national dialog "on youth and culture"  will have  precious few youths and those will be 
carefully selected to be clean cut  all-American models or "advocates " for youth.

We would loose less freedom by banning guns and explosives  than by banning books and internet information.  In both 
cases we will loose some freedom.

Dave

]
Questions are being raised about the role the Internet played in 
the Columbine High School shootings. In the aftermath of the 
tragedy, some are suggesting that ISPs keep tabs on teenagers 
online. Laurie Lipper of the Children's Partnership says others 
are calling for a summit to be convened that addresses the 
conflict between free speech and privacy rights on the Internet. 
Lipper says the time is right to start protecting kids on the 
Internet. Republican Congressmen are expected to announce 
Tuesday "a national dialogue on youth and culture" that addresses 
Internet topics such as violent games, the exchange of guns, and 
hate groups. ISPs will be urged to attend the discussions. Next 
week will mark the launch of MayberryUSA, an Internet provider 
that provides a whitewashed version of the Internet for children. 
Although company guidelines give AOL the right to monitor the Web 
pages of its community members, AOL's Ann Brackbill says 
filtering and monitoring Web pages is almost impossible. AOL 
enforces its kids' policy by vigilantly monitoring all children's 
areas, Katherine Borsecnik of AOL says. (USA Today 04/27/99)