X

Bill would ban social-networking sites in Illinois public schools, libraries

Anne Broache Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Anne Broache
covers Capitol Hill goings-on and technology policy from Washington, D.C.
See full bio
Anne Broache
2 min read

A broad new effort at blocking so-called social-networking Web sites on computers in public schools and libraries has emerged. But this time, it's not on Capitol Hill.

Illinois State Sen. Matt Murphy, a Republican who represents a western suburb of Chicago, has introduced what he calls the Social Networking Website Prohibition Act.

The bill was likely modeled after the U.S. House of Representatives' controversial Deleting Online Predators Act, which was approved by a 410-15 vote last summer but died before Senate consideration. But in some ways, the Illinois language appears to be more sweeping.

For one thing, the House version applied only to those schools and libraries that receive federal funding under the E-Rate program. But the Land of Lincoln proposal would apply to social-networking sites on all publicly accessible library computers--apparently without regard for whether the user was a child--and on all computers "made available" to students at public schools.

The Illinois bill also does not define the term "social networking site," leaving the state's top library and school officials to iron out the specifics of any new rules. The state attorney general would be allowed to file suit against violators.

Last summer's Republican-sponsored effort in Congress drew an outcry from many librarians, educators and civil libertarians who declared it overbroad. Although its intent was to limit kids' access to the likes of MySpace and chat rooms, its language could have arguably swept up thousands of commercial Web sites, such as Amazon.com and CNET Networks, that allows users to make a public profile. Opponents contended such an approach would stifle legitimate opportunities for education and other benefits that blacklisted sites could provide.

Michael Stephens, an Illinois-based library and information science professor who reported the state bill's introduction on his blog earlier this week, urged the state's library community to rally against the measure.