Virginia rejects Net filter mandate
State lawmakers reject a proposal that would have required public libraries to filter Net content to get $16 million in funding.
The decision yesterday marks the latest victory for free speech advocates who charge that blocking technologies often censor socially valuable sites that are protected by the First Amendment.
Proponents of library filtering policies argue that taxpayers shouldn't foot the bill for children--and, in some cases, older patrons--to pull down pornographic or adult-oriented sites.
The Virginia House voted against an amendment buried in an appropriations bill that would have required public libraries to install blocking software on computers to get a total of $16 million in funding.
Tying government dollars to filtering mandates is becoming a common tactic. For example, Congress is considering Sen. John McCain's (R-Arizona) bill that would force schools that apply for federal Net access discounts to filter out "inappropriate" Net sites. (See related story)
Despite the legislature's move in Virginia, however, there still is a landmark lawsuit underway in the state to test the constitutionality of library filtering.
A local group, the People for the American Way, and the American Civil Liberties Union are suing the Loudoun County Public Library over its policy to install blocking software on all computers. The policy prohibits accessing child pornography (which already is illegal in the United States), obscenity, or any "material deemed harmful to juveniles," regardless of the patron's age.
The federal court decision on the case is expected by April.