Some in Congress Seek To Expand CIPA To Block MySpace, Blogs, More

-- Library Journal, 05/15/2006

Either it’s fear of predators who meet teens on MySpace, or perhaps just a political move, but some Republicans in Congress want to expand the Children's Internet Protection Act, which requires schools and libraries receiving federal telecomm funds to filter Internet access. The Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA) would require schools and libraries to block access to a broad selection of web content, including "commercial Web sites that let users create web pages or profiles or offer communication with other users via forums, chat rooms, e-mail or instant messaging." Not only would the bill block sites like MySpace—where even libraries have set up their own profiles—it would also block instant messaging, online e-mail, wikis, and blogs.

The American Library Association Washington Office urged members to lobby against the bill. The message: DOPA isn’t necessary because schools and libraries already must block obscene or offensive Internet content, and DOPA is much too broad because it would block many beneficial collaborative web applications and resources. News.com called DOPA “part of a new, poll-driven effort by Republicans to address topics that they view as important to suburban voters.”