Challenging the Child Online Protection Act

narramissic writes, "Today in Philadelphia a federal trial got underway that will decide whether COPA is constitutional. The outcome will determine whether operators of Web sites can be held accountable for failing to block children's access to inappropriate materials. An article on ITworld outlines the arguments of the foes in the battle: the DOJ and the ACLU. If I were a betting woman, I'd put my money on the ACLU. Parents, schools, etc. have to take responsibility for the internet usage of children in their charge." Two courts have found COPA unconstitutional and the Supreme Court has upheld the ban on its enforcement, while asking a lower court to examine whether technological measures such as filtering could be as effective as the law in shielding children; thus this trial. The article does not mention that it was the DOJ's preparation for the trial that was behind its earlier request that search companies turn over their records — a request that only Google refused.

Comments

You'll have to pry CmdrTaco's child porn

[stratjakt]

from his clammy, sticky, hands!

ACLU + personal responsibility = Oxymoron

[freedomseven]

Since when does the ACLU advocate personal responsibility? If this legislation has gone so far out of whack that the ACLU can't make it someone elses responsibility it must suck.