roundtable: Re: Congress Brokers Censorship Deal

roundtable: Re: Congress Brokers Censorship Deal

Re: Congress Brokers Censorship Deal

Christopher E. Stefan (flatline@ironhorse.com)
Sun, 3 Dec 1995 22:29:52 -0800 (PST) 

Date: Sun, 3 Dec 1995 22:29:52 -0800 (PST)
From: "Christopher E. Stefan" <flatline@ironhorse.com>
To: com-priv@psi.com
Subject: Re: Congress Brokers Censorship Deal
In-Reply-To: <Pine.SUN.3.91.951203180417.2591F-100000@nic.cerf.net>
Message-Id: <Pine.LNX.3.91.951203220111.8166F-100000@caboose.ironhorse.com>


Excuse me, but what ever happened to the idea it is the *parents* 
responsiblity to control what sorts of influences their children are 
exposed to?  I don't know about any of you but my parents certainly 
controled my choice of reading material, movie and TV viewing, friends, 
where I could go, etc. until they thought I was old enough to make those 
decisions for myself.  When did this suddenly become Congress' 
responsiblity?

Another thing, how are US service providers supposed control access to
material coming from overseas?  Despite what some people on this list
would like to think not all countries with Internet connectivity have the
same standards as to what constitues "obcenity", "indecency", or even
"pornography".  What am I as an employee of a service provider to do 
about a Danish user who "makes available" material legal in Denmark but 
classified as "kiddie porn" here, via email, usenet, ftp, or www?  Do I 
simply block all packets going or coming from outside the US?  Do I 
simply not allow persons under 18 to use our service?  Do I have 
customers sign agreements to *never* allow anyone under 18 to use 
internet connectivity obtained from us?

One wonders who is *really* behind all of these Internet censorship 
attempts.  Seems to me that getting all those pesky, small, innovative, 
upstart companies out of the way thru draconian content restrictions and 
FCC regulations is a great way to make cyberspace safe for big media, 
big cable, and big telecom.  One way content, head end controled, 500 
home shopping channels, interactive TV indeed.

"those who willingly trade liberty for security, soon find they have
nither."  --Ben Franklin

-- 
Christopher E Stefan                         http://www.ironhorse.com/~flatline
System Administrator                         Home: (206) 706-0945
Ironhorse Software, Inc.                     Work: (206) 999-9983
flatline@ironhorse.com                       finger for PGP key

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