[no subject]

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


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