Filtering Addendum

Filtering Addendum
As stated in the original white paper " Filtering the Internet ", Internet filtering is a topic of much debate. We all see the need to protect children from online predators. The questions is how do we best protect them. Congress's answer is the Children's Online Protection Act (CIPA), which went into effect on April 20, 2001. CIPA requires libraries and school that receive federal funding to install internet filters or risk loosing funding. While schools scrambled to comply with the law the American Library Association (ALA) filed suit. On May 31, 2002, a three judge panel ruled that CIPA is unconstitutional because the filters block access to free speech granted to us by the 1st Amendment. On June 20, 2002, the government filed an appeal with the United States Supreme Court. The question still remains: What is the best way to protect our children from online predators without infringing on our right to free speech? The links below will provide additional information on CIPA, Internet filtering, and Internet safety:
Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the American Library Association (ALA) Lawsuit
	The ALA's position against the use of filtering software as stated in it's "Resolution on the Use of Filtering Software in Libraries" http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/filt_res.html
CIPA in the Courts
	Federal Court Rules in Favor of the ALA http://www.ala.org/cipa/cipatrial9.html Judges' Ruling in Favor of the ALA http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/02D0414P.HTM Internet filters block only a portions of what's on the web. Internet filters only filter text. They don't filter graphics. Internet filters only filter English text. Filtered Internet sites are not re-reviewed unless requested. ALA Links to Articles http://www.ala.org/cipa/headlines.html#othernews "Why Blocking Software is Wrong for Public Libraries" http://www.aclu.org/issues/cyber/box.html
Types of Filters Available
	Texas ISP Association's Blocking Software Help Page for Parents http://www.tispa.org/info/kinnaman/filtering.htm Review of Top Blocking Software http://www.cnet.com/software/0-352110-7-288571.html?tag=st.is.3811.prl.352110-7-288571 The Monitoring of Instant Messages http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/ptech/02/06/facetime.software.idg/index.html e-mail Filters http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/internet/10/10/e.mail.filters.idg/index.html Spam Filters http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/ptech/05/08/antispam.software.idg/index.html Advertising Filters http://news.com.com/2100-1023-236619.html?legacy=cnet The Blocking of Advertising Filters http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/internet/10/03/advertising.filters.idg/index.html
Safety on the Internet
	How well do Internet Filters Work? http://www.electronic-school.com/0198f1.html May 2002 report from the National Research Council: Youth Pornography and the Internet http://books.nap.edu/books/0309082749/html/index.html Findings of the Report http://books.nap.edu/books/0309082749/html/357.html#pagetop Parents should teach what is acceptable and unacceptable to their children. The Internet should be governed in the same ways as other media is governed.
Suggestions for Internet Safety from the Report
	Internet Safety at Home http://books.nap.edu/books/0309082749/html/374.html#pagetop Internet Safety at Schools and Libraries http://books.nap.edu/books/0309082749/html/378.html#pagetop Internet Safety Rules for Kids http://www.kidsdomain.com/brain/computer/surfing/safe_surf_rules_kids.html
Another Related Site
	The COPA Commission Web Site http://www.copacommission.org/