Web Access

On March 5th 2003,The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments challenging the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). The law requires public schools and libraries to install Internet filters on their computers so children and adults cannot view "inappropriate" information on the Internet. Schools and libraries that fail to install filters stand to lose federal "E-rate" funding for Internet access. The Justice Department contends that CIPA gives local communities the alternative to set their filtering software at varying levels. Government attorneys also dispute that schools and libraries are not necessary to install the software; as an alternative, they could choose not to receive federal funds. Opponents, as well as the American Library Association and the American Civil Liberties Union, quarrel that filters are a flawed tool that restricts the rights of students and adults to view First Amendment-protected information.
The author gives two views into the argument, and lets the r...