07/31/06 U.S. House Passes Bill Targeting Social Networking Sites
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Deleting Online Predators Act requiring schools and libraries to block access to social networking sites and chat rooms in an effort to curb the use of the Internet by child predators. The bill calls for any school or library receiving federal funding through the E-rate program to employ "technology protection" measures (i.e., filters) to prohibit minors from accessing social networking sites and chat rooms where they may be subject to "unlawful sexual advances."
Under the bill, children in schools and libraries would not be allowed to access social networking sites or chat rooms without adult supervision. However, even though politicians apparently meant to restrict access to MySpace, the definition of off-limits Web sites is so broad the bill would probably sweep in thousands of commercial Web sites that allow people to post profiles, include personal information, and allow "communication among users. ” The FTC would be the arbiter of what can and cannot be accessed in libraries around the country meaning that, for the first time, the government would be in the business of evaluating and screening wholly lawful Internet content. The legislation also allows schools and libraries to turn off protection measures for adult use.
The bill, which is opposed by the American Library Association, now moves on to the U.S. Senate where hearings are scheduled to begin soon.
