Issue: Online Access: Blocking Technology

Internet blocking technology, sometimes referred to as "filtering software" or "censorware", provides a means for preventing certain information from appearing on the computer screen. More than a dozen blocking technology companies provide such technology.

However, blocking technology can't work because it often fails to block content it aims to block, often blocks other content it did not intend to block, and causes other administrative, technical, and ethical difficulties.

The Online Policy Group provides blocking technology research, tracks legislative and policymaking efforts related to blocking technology and Internet access, and catalogs a wide variety of blocking technology problems and bloopers in the Online Oddities and Atrocities Museum.

Check out the media coverage on Internet blocking issues, as well as the links to organizations and related publications below.

Media Coverage

	Library Decision for Unfiltered Net Access May Cost Federal Dollars
	The City Library Board's approval of a proposal that allows some computers unfiltered Internet access might mean the loss of thousand of federal dollars, Associated Press via USA Today (November 19, 2003)

Machine Politics in the Digital Age

In mid-August, Walden W. O'Dell, the chief executive of Diebold Inc., sat down at his computer to compose a letter inviting 100 wealthy and politically inclined friends to a Republican Party fund-raiser, to be held at his home in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. "I am committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year," wrote Mr. O'Dell, whose company is based in Canton, Ohio, New York Times (November 9, 2003)

	E-Voting Vendor Sued for DMCA Takedown
	Two college students and a non-profit will seek a restraining order tomorrow to prevent electronic voting machine vendor Diebold Systems from using the DMCA to plug a leak, The Register (November 7, 2003)

	Students Sue Over Voting Vulnerability
	Two students from Swarthmore College have filed suit against one of the nation's largest makers of electronic voting machines, alleging that Diebold, Inc. had abused copyright laws to keep information from the public that is crucial to the health of America's democracy, Daily Princetonian via Common Dreams (November 7, 2003)

	Judge Speeds Case On E-Voting Company's Threats
	A federal district court judge today set an accelerated schedule for consideration of a request to halt legal harassment of Internet publishers, Scoop (November 6, 2003)

Recent Coverage

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Organizations and Related Publications

	Filter Software Will Block Offensive Web Sites
	"Websense" filtering software is now in place at Argonne-East to analyze and prevent access to World Wide Web pages containing material that may be offensive, Argonne News (November 19, 2003)

	UK Cannabis Internet Activists Website Blocked
	During the week of 11th November it was drawn to our attention that UKCIA was blocked from computers in libraries run by Essex County Council, UK Cannabis Internet Activists (November 18, 2003)

	New First Report: Net Filters in Libraries
	Internet Filters and Public Libraries by David L. Sobel (OPG Advisory Board member) is a new First Report now available from the First Amendment Center, First Amendment Center (November 12, 2003)

	Pennsylvania Web Blocking Law
	The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) together with the ACLU of Pennsylvania and Plantagenet, Inc., a Pennsylvania ISP filed a constitutional challenge to a Pennsylvania statute that blocks access to Internet sites accused of carrying child pornography and that results in the blocking of wholly innocent websites, Center for Democracy and Technology (September 9, 2003)

OPG Co-Hosts Bridging the Digital Divides Event Join us the week of August 25-29 as we discuss "Bridging the Digital Divides, Equal Access to the Internet" on Techsoup's Digital Divide Forum, including topics such as class-based disparity in available technology, the role race, ethnicity, and religion play in the digital divide, women and technology, the impact of Internet blocking software on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, and access to technology for people with disabilities, Online Policy Group (August 25, 2003)

Recent Publications

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