Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Government efforts to control content on the Internet can give people a false sense of security. Take for example the trade of mp3 music files via internet. This was stopped many years ago by a determined music industry that was irate and sick of piracy. However this did not put an end to illegal file sharing. “The trade of pirated music files continues through other, non-web avenues on the internet that are just as user friendly: peer-to-peer networks and email.” Keeping this example in mind let us return to the issue of child pornography. Government regulations cannot stop the sharing of child porn. Much of the pornography is traded through file-sharing that use websites which are not targeted by COPA. “In the name of protecting children, the law interferes with content that adults should have the right to see under the First Amendment. And laws like COPA can have unintended consequences: barriers to those who seek porn voluntarily will likely increase email solicitations for porn (spam), which COPA wouldn't regulate.” Parents, not government, can protect their children. If Parents choose to allow their children to access the internet, they must take on the responsibility to supervise. “Filtering-not just filtering software but filtered online services apart from the broader Internet that might be appropriate for the very young-is available” Tracking software is also available. This allows parents to monitor what their children do on the internet and where they go in cybersapce. Although some people would call such this spying it is less invasive than congress regulating the entire content of the internet for everyone.
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