Action: Legislation and Policymaking: Blocking: United States 2000: Childrens' Internet Protection Act
Federal Blocking Legislation 2000
Status: Passed, legal challenges underway
Overview
Summary: Childrens' Internet Protection Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to make an elementary school, secondary school, or library ineligible to receive or retain universal service assistance under such Act unless it certifies to the Federal Communications Commission that it has selected and installed (or will install) a technology for computers with Internet access which filters or blocks material deemed harmful to minors.
Full Text of Bill
Sponsor: Sen. John McCain
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Joint Statement Opposing Legislative Requirements for School and Library Internet Blocking Technologies
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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, January 17, 2001
Media Coverage:
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Internet Blocking Trial Draws to a Close
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The ACLU, the American Library Association, and other
organizations made the case in federal court against
the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), which
requires all public schools and libraries receiving
certain federal funds or grants to install Internet
blocking software by July 2002, March 25 - April 4, 2002
Media coverage:
Judges End U.S. Library Porn Trial on Skeptical Note (Reuters via NY Times),
Judges Iffy About Library Filtering Law (Reuters via CNETNews.com),
Judges Blast Library Filtering (Wired News),
Librarian: Filters Are Fab (Wired News),
A Software Program Too Far? (Dallas Fort Worth Star-Telegram),
A Worthwhile Web Regulation (NY Times, may require free registration),
The Evil Of Silent Censorship (LangaList),
Full Assault on Filter Software (Wired News),
Old Principles Guide Librarians on Net (The Oregonian),
Standing Up to the Law (LA Times),
Porn in the Court: Battle Rages Over Web Smut (AP via CNN),
Librarians Testify in Internet Case (AP via Salon),
Govt. Witnesses Wrap Up First Week Of Filtering Trial (washingtonpost.com),
Librarian Testifies Against Censorship (AP via Yahoo! News),
Librarians Fight Children's Internet Protection Act (Holt Uncensored),
Filters for Web Work, Librarian Tells Federal Court (Philadelphia Inquirer),
Feds Mount Defense of Library Porn Law (Reuters via CNN),
Smut Filter Snags Non-Smut, Too (Wired News),
Porn Trial Experts Say Software Block Limited (CNN),
Net Filters Fail the Children (BBC News),
Witnesses Advocate Unfiltered Internet (Philadelphia Inquirer),
Librarians Testify against Web-Filter Requirement (Philadelphia Inquirer),
Experts Lambaste Smut Filters (Reuters via Wired News),
Censorship Has Worked, Library Says (Times Picayune),
Book Banning in the 21st Century (AlterNet),
Porn-Filter Trial Gets Raunchy (Wired News),
Porn-Filter Judge Boots Public (Wired News),
Internet Filtering Technology Put to Legal Test (Newsfactor.com via Yahoo! News),
Internet Porn Battle Heads for Court (CNN),
Library Net Filtering Battle Heads for Court (ZDNet News),
Librarians Argue against Net Filtering (Reuters via CNET News.com),
Unknown Title (Wall St. Journal, requires paid subscription),
Libraries Tackle Children's Internet Protection Law (law.com),
Libraries Challenge Net Filter Requirement (LA Times),
Librarians Open Case Against Internet Filtering Law (washingtonpost.com),
Library Net-Filtering Study Re-Released on Eve of Trial (washingtonpost.com),
Court to Hear Net Filtering Challenge (CNET News.com),
Law Limiting Internet in Libraries Challenged (NY Times, may require free registration),
Librarians Fighting Internet-Filter Law (Mercury News),
U.S. Library Porn Law Battle Heads for Court (Reuters)
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Massachusetts Internet Filtering Technology Company Says Mandatory Filtering Laws Aren't Needed
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SurfControl has issued a statement saying that Internet blocking laws are not necessary,
CNET News, June 4, 2001
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Some Librarians Balking at Internet Filter Mandate
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Many libraries in Iowa are not happy with the prospect of blocking Internet resources from their patrons,
Chicago Tribune, May 30, 2001
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Libraries Win Delay in Installing Internet Filters
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Public schools and libraries have until at least July 2002 to comply
with a federal law requiring Internet blocking technologies in exchange
for federal grants and discounts,
San Francisco Chronicle, May 16, 2001
Related media coverage:
Washington Post,
May 16, 2001
SiliconValley.com, May 16, 2001
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FilterGate, or Knowing What We're Walling In or Walling Out
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A humorous and insightful essay on the problems associated with Internet blocking,
MultiMedia Schools,
May 1, 2001
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Down by Law: New Internet Laws Will Hurt the Poorest of the Poor
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An opinion piece addressing the digital divide in the light of CHIPA and other government
policies,
A List Apart,
April 6, 2001
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Lawsuits Slam Net Filtering Efforts
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The American Civil Liberties Union and American Library Association
filed separate suits Tuesday in a federal district court in Philadelphia
challenging a new law that requires federally funded schools and libraries
to install software that blocks "objectionable" online materials,
CNET News, March 20, 2001
Related media coverage:
Libraries Spearhead Attack on Cyber-Porn Law
Reuters
Librarians Contest Law Requiring Net Filters
Mercury News,
Libraries: Filter Out Filters
Wired,
Library Smut Snit Heats Up
Wired,
Diverse Coalition Sues To Overturn Web-Filtering Law
Newsbytes,
Daily E-Mail Alert, Tech Law Journal,
Censoring the Libraries, San Francisco Chronicle,
ALA Lawsuit Poll, Excite,
March 19-23, 2001
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Internet Filters Used to Shield Minors Censor Speech
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In December, lawmakers passed a bill requiring
federally financed schools and libraries to use
a "technology protection measure" like blocking products
to block Internet access to obscene material, child pornography
and anything considered to be "harmful to minors",
NY Times,
March 19, 2001
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Should the Government Require Filtering?
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The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups have raised that
question regarding the Children's Internet Protection Act (CHIPA),
which became law in December 2000. The act is expected to face a court challenge,
Consumer Reports, March 2001.
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Another Federal Law Seeks to Limit Web Access
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Despite several successful court challenges, the national
effort to "protect" children from
the dangers of the Internet
refuses to go away,
Philadelphia Gay News,
March 12, 2001
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American Library Association Votes to Challenge CIPA
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The executive board of the American Library Association (ALA) voted yesterday to
initiate legal action challenging the recently enacted Children's Internet Protection Act
(CHIPA or CIPA),
American Library Association,
January 18, 2001
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FRC Touts Passage of Children's Internet
Protection Act
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"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 release,
December 19, 2000
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ACLU Promises Legal Challenge as Congress Adopts Bill Imposing
Internet Blocking in Libraries
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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 release,
December 18, 2000
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U.S. Congress Approves Omnibus Bill with Filtering Mandate
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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.
Technology purchased with educational technology or library service funds must have filters on computers accessible to minors.
The conference agreement also includes the Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act, which requires schools or libraries
with Internet access to hold public hearings and adopt Internet use policies for material inappropriate for minors,"
U.S. House Appropriations Committee release,
December 15, 2000
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Action Alert: Education Spending, with Filtering Mandates, Still in Play
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By all indications, a complex Internet blocking mandate only slightly altered from earlier drafts will be included in Labor-HHS-Education (H.R. 4577), the final education spending bill
to be sent to the President,
American Library Association,
October 30, 2000
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Web Filters Proving Ineffective But Politicians Effectively Milking Them
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People are so enamored of the idea behind blocking programs that
some members of Congress want to force blocking products into every school and library
that receives federally subsidized Internet equipment,
Chicago Tribune,
October 30, 2000
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Filter Bill Pending As Criticism Rises
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As Congress continued to negotiate on the blocking provisions in the pending appropriations bill, criticism of blocking products continued,
LibraryJournal.com,
October 30, 2000
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Don't Let McCain Censor the Internet
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Christopher Hunter explains why new legislation that would require the
use of blocking software
by public libraries is unnecessary and unconstitutional, Salon,
October 25, 2000
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Will COPA Commission Report Influence Vote on Tying E-rate to Filters?
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Pending in a Congressional conference committee is the Labor-HHS appropriations bill, HR 4577 which
includes amendments that would tie the receipt of E-rate telecomm discounts and LSTA funds to use of
filters to block obscenity, child pornography, and "harmful to minors material",
LibraryJournal.com,
October 16, 2000
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Congress Weighing Internet Filtering for Schools, Libraries
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Four Republicans are promoting legislation that would force
schools and libraries to use Internet blocking
software or lose federal dollars intended to
help buy Web access, Associated Press,
October 15, 2000
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Internet School Filtering Act Introduced
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Senator McCain Press Release, January 20, 1999
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Congress to Revisit Net Filtering
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CNET, January 20, 1999
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Senate Committee Hears Arguments on Internet Filtering Bill
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Free!, March 5, 1999
Organizations and Related Publications
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ALA Delivers Closing Arguments in CIPA Trial
Court Panel Hears Final Witnesses in CIPA Trial,
ALA Brings Chelton to the Stand
in Near-Final Day of CIPA Trial,
CIPA Trial Enters Second Week,
CIPA Trial Recesses Until Monday,
CIPA Trial Wraps Third Day
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American Library Association, March 28 - April 3, 2002
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ALA Presents Expert Testimony on Filter Failures at CIPA Trial
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American Library Association, March 27, 2002
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ALA Presents Arguments in First Day of CIPA Challenge
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American Library Association, March 26, 2002
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FRC Enters Case Aimed at Protecting Kids on the Internet
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Family Research Council, March 22, 2002
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Government Censorship Trial Begins Monday
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ACLU / Electronic Frontier Foundation, March 22, 2002
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Birds, Bees, and Filtering Technology: The Impact of CIPA on Adolescent Health (Adobe PDF format)
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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,
January 8, 2002.
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Cyber Liberties Threatened by Congress, Say Civil Rights Activists
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As a special report to the Online Policy Group, Sara Nordin discusses various points of view on CHIPA,
Online Policy Group, June 9, 2001
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ACLU Files Challenge to Library Internet Censorship In Case Fast-Tracked for Supreme Court Review
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Acting on behalf of public libraries, library patrons and website authors
nationwide, the American Civil Liberties Union today filed a major
legal challenge
to a federal law that forces libraries to censor constitutionally protected speech online,
ACLU, March 20, 2001.
The American Library Association
also filed a
lawsuit challenging Children's Internet Protection Act.
Related media releases:
Family Research Council
defends CHIPA.
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