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Old Organizations and Related Publications

*   OPG Climbs "Great Firewall" at Computers Freedom and Privacy Conference
OPG Executive Director Will Doherty will lead a plenary entitled "The Great Firewall of China - Internet Filtering and Free Expression" at the Computers, Freedom, and Privacy conference taking place at the New Yorker Hotel from 10:30am - 12:00 noon, Online Policy Group (April 3, 2003)

*   U.S. Supreme Court Arguments on Children's Internet Protection Act (Adobe PDF format)
The oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in the American Library Association, ACLU, et al's case against the library portion of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) are now online, U.S. Supreme Court (March 19, 2003)

*   High Court Leans Toward Allowing Library Net Filtering
During oral arguments yesterday, Supreme Court justices seemed largely supportive of the 2001 Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), which requires federally-funded public libraries to install filtering software, First Amendment Center Online (March 6, 2003)

*   Seth Finkelstein Demonstrates Problems with Filtering Software
Software expert Seth Finkelstein has compiled a list of censorware bloopers, supporting his argument that "censorware is about control over what people are permitted to read", Seth Finkelstein's Infothought (March 5, 2003)

*   Congressman Says Filtering Crucial to Future of Public Libraries
The principal author of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) argued before the Supreme Court that without filtering, America's libraries will become "glorified government-funded adult bookstores", Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) Online (March 5, 2003)

*   ACLU, ALA and Amici File Supreme Court Briefs Arguing that CIPA is Unconstitutional
Yesterday, ACLU and the American Library Association filed their briefs in the United States Supreme Court arguing that CIPA, the Children's Internet Protection Act, is unconstitutional, and that the injunction issued by a special three judge court prohibiting the enforcement of CIPA should be upheld, Censorware Project (February 11, 2003)

*   U.S. Supreme Court Considers Internet Blocking in Libraries
The Online Policy Group (OPG) and software expert Seth Finkelstein today submitted a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court supporting a lower court decision that the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) places unconstitutional limitations on free speech of library patrons by requiring the use of technology protection measures in libraries receiving certain federal funding or discounts, Online Policy Group (February 10, 2003)
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*   Supreme Court Sets Schedule for CIPA Appeal
Arguments on the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) will be held Wednesday, March 5, 2003, according to a schedule released December 18, by the U.S. Supreme Court, American Library Association (December 19, 2002)
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*   See No Evil: How Internet Filters Affect the Search for Online Health Information
With a case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging mandatory filters in libraries, the Foundation conducted a comprehensive study that indicates Internet filters most frequently used by schools and libraries can effectively block pornography without significantly impeding access to online health information - but only if they aren’t set at their most restrictive levels, Kaiser Family Foundation (December 10, 2002)

*   Harmful to Minors Review
Judith Levine's "Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children from Sex" is a must-read for those who seek to understand American attitudes toward sex education and childhood sexuality and for those interested in how to use the Internet to reach out to young people who are exploring their sexuality and seeking sexual health information, despite Internet filtering, University of Minnesota Press (October 17, 2002)

*   School Communities Give Internet Filtering Law Failing Grade
School administrators, along with students, teachers, parents, and school librarians, in San Francisco, New York, and Boston speak out against federal mandates for Internet blocking or filtering software in public schools, Online Policy Group (September 18, 2002)
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*   Students, Educators and Activists Speak Out Against Federally Mandated Blocking Software in Schools
Students, parents, educators and free speech advocates across the country spoke out today against the federal mandate for Internet blocking software on school computers that went into effect at the beginning of this school year, ACLU (September 18, 2002)

*   Federal District Court Overturns CIPA
The law, signed by President Clinton in 2000 to go into effect July 1, would have forced libraries to equip computers with software designed to block access to Internet pornography and other material deemed harmful to minors or risk losing federal funding, American Libraries (June 3, 2002)

*   ALA Applauds Federal Court Ruling on the Children's Internet Protection Act
The American Library Association (ALA) applauds the decision of the federal court in Philadelphia today, which ruled unanimously that the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is unconstitutional, American Library Association (May 31, 2002)

*   Court Panel Hears Final Witnesses in CIPA Trial
The federal court three-judge panel heard from the final witnesses in the American Library Association’s (ALA) legal challenge to the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), American Library Association (April 3, 2002)

*   ALA Delivers Closing Arguments in CIPA Trial
American Library Association (ALA) attorneys today presented closing arguments in their legal challenge to the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), American Library Association (April 3, 2002)

*   ALA Brings Chelton to the Stand in Near-Final Day of CIPA Trial
The American Library Association (ALA) presented its final witness yesterday in its legal challenge to the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), American Library Association (April 3, 2002)

*   CIPA Trial Enters Second Week
The government returned with its witnesses yesterday morning in the second week of the American Library Association's (ALA) legal challenge to the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), American Library Association (April 2, 2002)

*   CIPA Trial Wraps Third Day
The government began presenting its case in the American Library Association’s (ALA) legal challenge to the Children’s Internet Protection Act yesterday, American Library Association (March 29, 2002)

*   CIPA Trial Recesses Until Monday
The government called the last of this week’s witnesses in the American Library Association’s legal challenge to the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), American Library Association (March 29, 2002)

*   ALA Presents Expert Testimony on Filter Failures at CIPA Trial
Day two of the American Library Association's (ALA) challenge to the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) focused on expert testimony regarding the failure of filters to block all illegal content, as required by the law, American Library Association (March 27, 2002)

*   ALA Presents Arguments in First Day of CIPA Challenge
The American Library Association (ALA) opened its challenge to the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) yesterday in the District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, American Library Association (March 26, 2002)

*   Librarians, Advocates Present Case Against Federal Net Filtering Law
The Children's Internet Protection Act trial, which started last Monday in Federal Court in Philadelphia, is expected to run for around 9 days with the legal challenge focusing on the requirement that libraries institute Internet filtering in order to receive federal tech funding grants, Associated Press via Wall Street Journal (paid subscription) (March 25, 2002)

*   FRC Enters Case Aimed at Protecting Kids on the Internet
Family Research Council's senior director of Legal Studies, Jan LaRue, has submitted an amicus (friend-of-the-court) brief to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in defense of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), Family Research Council (March 22, 2002)

*   Government Censorship Trial Begins Monday
In a nine-day trial set to begin on Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union will argue that a federal law that forces libraries to censor constitutionally protected speech online is unconstitutional and should be permanently struck down, American Civil Liberties Union via Electronic Frontier Foundation (March 22, 2002)

*   Birds, Bees, and Filtering Technology: The Impact of CIPA on Adolescent Health
Stacy Lau's paper analyzes the effects of the Children's Internet Protection Act on the health of minors, Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy, Princeton University (Adobe pdf file) (January 8, 2002)

*   San Francisco bans filters in libraries
San Francisco officials have voted to ban Internet filters on computers in local public libraries, risking the loss of some $20,000 in federal funds, CNET (October 2, 2001)

*   Cyber Liberties Threatened by Congress, Say Civil Rights Activists
As a special report to the Online Policy Group, Sara Nordin discusses the various sides of CHIPA, Online Policy Group (June 9, 2001)

*   Who Is E-Mailing Our Kids Act
A bill proposed by Felix Grucci, Jr. (R-NY) would require schools and libraries recieving E-rate funding to block anonymous web and emailing services, Online Policy Group (May 16, 2001)

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*   Text of the ALA's Lawsuit Challenging CIPA
The text of the lawsuit by the American Library Association filed in United States District Court to overturn the Children’s Internet Protection Act (pdf file), American Library Association (March 20, 2001)

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*   American Library Association Files Lawsuit Challenging Children’s Internet Protection Act
The American Library Association (ALA) today has filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia to overturn the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), which mandates the use of blocking technology on computers in public libraries, American Library Association (March 20, 2001)

*   ACLU and ALA File Challenges to Library Internet Censorship in Case Fast-Tracked for Supreme Court Review
Acting on behalf of public libraries, library patrons and website authors nationwide, the American Civil Liberties Union and the American Library Association filed separate legal challenges to a federal law that forces libraries to censor constitutionally protected speech online, ACLU and ALA (March 20, 2001)

*   Text of the ACLU's Lawsuit Challenging CIPA
Acting on behalf of public libraries, library patrons and website authors nationwide, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a legal challenge to a federal law that forces libraries to censor constitutionally protected speech online (pdf file), ACLU (March 20, 2001)

*   American Library Association Votes to Challenge CIPA
The executive board of the American Library Association (ALA) voted yesterday to initiate legal action challenging the recently enacted Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), American Library Association (January 18, 2001)

*   Joint Statement Opposing Legislative Requirements for School and Library Internet Blocking Technologies
Join this growing constituency of organizations and individuals who have published a joint statement in response to the US Congress' passage of legislation requiring blocking technology in all public schools and libraries participating in federal programs in order to galvanize opposition to mandatory blocking technology and to promote educational methods for youth to use the Internet safely and effectively, Online Policy Group (January 17, 2001)

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*   Blocking Can't Work
A new list of the top ten reasons why Internet blocking technology can't work especially in light of the U.S. Congress' requirement for blocking technology in all public schools and libraries, Online Policy Group (January 6, 2001)

*   ALA's CIPA Website
A wealth of resources related to the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA or CHIP) including a resolution on opposition to federally mandated Internet filtering, information on the ALA's legal challenge, and the ALA's libraries and the Internet toolkit, American Library Association (January 1, 2001)

*   FRC Touts Passage of Children's Internet Protection Act
"Passage of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is good news for America - especially for America's children who need to be shielded from Internet smut," Family Research Council's Senior Director of Legal Studies Jan LaRue said, Family Research Council (December 19, 2000)

*   ACLU Moves to Block Filtering Law
The Associated Press reported that the American Civil Liberties Union plans to fight new legislation requiring all schools and public libraries that accept federal money to use Internet filtering software, ACLU (December 19, 2000)

*   ACLU Promises Legal Challenge as Congress Adopts Bill Imposing Internet Blocking in Libraries
The American Civil Liberties Union said that it will soon launch a legal challenge to legislation adopted by Congress last week that would mandate the use of blocking software on computers in public libraries, ACLU (December 18, 2000)

*   U.S. Congress Approves Omnibus Bill with Filtering Mandate
The U.S. Congress passed legislation including "the Children's Internet Protection Act which requires schools and libraries to implement filtering technology for computers with Internet access as a condition of receiving education technology funds, library services funds, or universal service discounts", U.S. House Appropriations Committee (December 15, 2000)

*   Internet School Filtering Act Introduced
The bill is designed to protect children from exposure to sexually explicit and other harmful material when they access the Internet in school and in the library, Senator John McCain (January 20, 1999)

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