FC: More on SurfControl and its opposition to mandatory filtering

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

And from the politech archives:

"Conservative groups oppose mandatory library filtering"
http://www.politechbot.com/p-01424.html

Background on Cyberpatrol and its parent company's threats against Politech:
http://www.politechbot.com/cyberpatrol/

-Declan

---

From: "D. Ian Hopper" <ihopper () ap org>
To: <declan () well com>
Subject: RE: SurfControl says it opposes mandatory filtering in libraries
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 09:34:09 -0400
Message-ID: <NDBBLKAPMMCGKEJOBIOEGECPCDAA.ihopper () ap org>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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That's not news. Susan Getgood has been saying that from the very beginning:

aD77Q92980 10-23-2000 15:27:33
Internet filter limitations at odds with youth-protection bill
^By D. IAN HOPPER=
^Associated Press Writer=
¶   WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Internet-filtering software pushed by Congress to
protect children from smut online is blocking far more than pornography. It
accidentally screens out innocent content like a Virginia lawyer's home page
and a Texas home inspector's Web site.
¶   The software's uneven performance puts a snag in the politically
attractive solution that Congress is trying to include in an education
spending bill before it adjourns.
¶   The measure's supporters admit the tools aren't perfect and want
communities also to study other ways to combat child pornography on the
World Wide Web.
¶   "We need to make sure we're looking at the whole issue and everything
that's out there. Filters won't be a cure-all," said Melissa Sabatine, a
spokeswoman for Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., co-sponsor of the legislation.
¶   The White House and civil liberties groups worried about free-speech
implications of filtering oppose the measure, as does, ironically, the maker
of the most popular Internet filter. The bill's specific language impedes
innovation, the company called SurfCONTROL contends.
¶   "Things that mandate specific technologies probably aren't the best
solution here. Let the free market decide, and let us improve these products
all the time," said Susan Getgood, a SurfCONTROL vice president.
¶   SurfCONTROL owns the two most-used filtering tools, CyberPatrol and
SurfWatch. Its technology also powers America Online's Web filter.
¶   "My chief criticism is that I don't think it's necessary because schools
are already doing what they need to do to protect their students," Getgood
said.

...





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