Interesting People mailing list archives
Re: IP: House Moves to Protect Kids on Web
From: David Farber <dfarber () earthlink net>
Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 07:45:26 -0400
-----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! chairman, EDventure Holdings writer, Release 3.0 (on Website below) edyson () edventure com 1 (212) 924-8800 -- fax 1 (212) 924-0240 104 Fifth Avenue (between 15th and 16th Streets; 20th floor) New York, NY 10011 USA http://www.edventure.com The conversation continues..... at http://www.edventure.com/conversation/ For archives see: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- Re: IP: House Moves to Protect Kids on Web David Farber (May 23)