Senator Ted Stevens, who last entered our radar screen when he described the internet as a series of tubes, has introduced Senate Bill 49 which appears to encompass everything we objected to about DOPA, plus more. DOPA, after passing with an overwhelming majority in the House then died from stagnation in the Senate with the end of the Congressional session.Though some are calling it DOPA, JR, it m
Full text of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act (DOPA, jr.).
TLF readers, I need your help. As most of you know, many federal and state lawmakers are suggesting that “social networking websites” need to be regulated in the name of keeping minors safe online. So far, regulatory proposals have come in two varieties: (1) an outright ban on such sites in publicly funded schools and libraries, or (2) mandatory age verification of users before they are allowed on the sites.
Blog posts for a bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent the carriage of child pornography by video service providers, to protect children from online predators, and to restrict the sale or purchase of children?s personal information in interstate commerce.
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent the carriage of child pornography by video service providers, to protect children from online predators, and to restrict the sale or purchase of children's personal information in interstate commerce.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 4, 2007
Mr. STEVENS introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
It's easy to understand why people would be skeptical, or even suspicious, of anything Alaska Senator Ted Stevens introduces into Congress these days, especially if it involves the Internet – or, the tubes and all that. But the simply-titled Senate Bill 49, which some have called "Son of DOPA" or "DOPA Jr.," may not be as bad as its made out
Senator Stevens submitted the following statement for the record:
The Internet is a dynamic space where Americans turn to get information, do research, and exchange ideas.
Given the increasingly important role of the Internet in education and commerce, it differs from other media like TV and cable because parents cannot prevent their children from using the Internet altogether. The headlines continue to tell us of children who are victimized online. While the issues are difficult, I believe Congress has an important role to play to ensure that the protections available in other parts of our society find their way to the Internet. Since introducing the Protecting Children Online in the 21st Century Act, my staff and I have worked with a wide variety of advocacy groups on this topic. In response to the feedback we have received, my staff are currently circulating a new draft wth four primary goals.
Ironically, in the real world outside the beltway, TIME Magazine just named ‘You,’ the end user, its Person of the Year for 2006, proclaiming on the mylar mirrored cover, "Yes, you. You control the Information Age. Welcome to Your World." It would appear that the rejoinder is being written by Congress and it is, “Not in this school; not in this library." So while we exhort administrators and flog teachers to bring schooling into the 21st Century of technology use, our government officials are creating fear-based regulations that continue to make it near impossible to do anything meaningful with technology other than drill students on self-contained local networks of canned curricular material. Maybe I should have entitled this blog entry, Congress Seeks Restrictions on TIME Mag. Person of the Year, because that is the net effect (pun intended).
The problem I see with this bill, as with many bills proposed by either party, is that on the surface it appears to address a certain obvious problem. In this case, the general theme is that we are trying to protect our children from digital predators, unscrupulous marketing agencies, oh yes, and themselves. It sends the message, what sort of person would NOT want to protect our children? And places those who oppose the bill’s other tenets in a very uncomfortable position. The question is, what is the unspoken intent and resultant fall-out of this bill should it become law?
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Senator Ted Stevens, who last entered our radar screen when he described the internet as a series of tubes, has introduced Senate Bill 49 which appears to encompass everything we objected to about DOPA, plus more. DOPA, after passing with an overwhelming majority in the House then died from stagnation in the Senate with the end of the Congressional session.Though some are calling it DOPA, JR, it m
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