roundtable: NCFE Press Release Re: Exon Amendment

roundtable: NCFE Press Release Re: Exon Amendment

NCFE Press Release Re: Exon Amendment

sbj@tmn.com
Fri, 16 Jun 1995 00:16:51 GMT 

Date: Fri, 16 Jun 1995 00:16:51 GMT
Message-Id: <199506160016.AAA02176@purple.tmn.com>
From: sbj@tmn.com
To: roundtable@cni.org
Subject: NCFE Press Release Re: Exon Amendment


The following is a media release from the National Campaign for Freedom 
of Expression regarding the Exon Amendment.



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   CONTACT:
June 15, 1995   Steven Johnson (206) 340-9301
                David Mendoza (206) 340-9301



Exon Amendment Threatens
Artistic Expression
Arts Organization Vows
Continued Opposition


Washington, DC:  The National
Campaign for Freedom of Expression, an
educational and advocacy network of
artists, arts organizations and concerned
citizens founded to fight censorship vowed
to continue opposition today to censorship
on the Internet.  The Senate voted 84-16
yesterday to adopt S. 314, commonly
referred to as the Exon Amendment, which
establishes fines and prison terms for
anyone who "knowingly make, or make
available" obscene or indecent materials to
minors on electronic networks.

"This legislation is overly broad, poorly
written, misdirected and we believe,
unconstitutional," said David Mendoza,
NCFE executive director.  "This bill, if
enacted as passed by the Senate yesterday,
will have a damaging effect on the use of
electronic communications technology to
develop and distribute artistic expression
including poetry, novels, paintings,
photographs, etc."

NCFE has been an outspoken opponent of
this legislation and similar bills at the local
level.  Last month, NCFE joined members
of the music community, arts, civil
liberties, computer access providers and
AIDS organizations in Washington State to
effectively kill similar legislation.

"This creates a chilling effect on artistic
expression on the Internet which we believe
is unconstitutionally overbroad," Mendoza
said.  "Undoubtedly, some artistic
expression disseminated via electronic
communications will be pronounced
'indecent' by some, and the artist targeted
for prosecution" he added.

"NCFE will continue to work with our
friends in the civil liberties community,
online computer service providers, arts
community and Internet users to challenge
this direct attack on freedom of
expression," said Mendoza.


###

The National Campaign for Freedom of Expression is the only
national organization exclusively dedicated to challenging the
erosion of First Amendment rights as applied to the support,
presentation, and creation of the arts in our culture.  NCFE
maintains offices in Washington, DC and Seattle, WA.

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