Children’s Internet Protection Act

A specific issue facing Americans is how to protect children from damaging content on the Internet. In response to this growing concern the United States Congress passed the Children’s Internet Protection Act in 2000 to control what is accessible on school and library computers. According to The Federal Communications Commission , this act requires that when schools or libraries receive discounts for Internet access through the government’s E-rate program, they must also enact certain measures to filter the Internet. The schools or libraries must filter or block pictures that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors (on computers accessed by minors.) The schools and libraries must also create an Internet safety policy that addresses safety while communicating on the Internet via chat rooms or e-mail, unapproved access and unlawful activities such as hacking, and unauthorized disclosure and use of personal information.  To receive the funding the schools’ Internet safety policies must include yearly training for students to learn how to be safe on the Internet.  Here is a clip of a video that may be used in an elementary school to educate children on Internet safety.

Though the Children’s Internet Protection Act seems like it does nothing but shelter children, I want to also view it from a critical standpoint. Many groups have expressed concerns with the censorship that this act enables, including the writer of this article from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. They argue that many libraries and school go far beyond the requirements of the Children’s Internet Protection Act when they enact their filters. The Children’s Internet Protection Act requires that for schools and libraries to receive the funding they must block only images that are obscene or contain child pornography.

Unfortunately, many schools are taking the Children’s Internet Protection Act as a chance to block things such as social networking sites, political sites, and sites about controversial things such as LGBTQ rights and gun laws. Internet filters are not perfect and often block educational sites that they shouldn’t. Filters at libraries may block useful things such as sites showing human anatomy to use for research and studying.  When filters are supposed to be blocking obscene content from children, they often fail. Using image search engines is a common way to get around filters because thumbnails can usually be seen and will often even allow you to see the image full size or visit the site it is on.

Some argue that using filters in schools and libraries does not prepare children for open access to the Internet. While it may protect them from damaging content while accessing the Internet there, when they have access to unfiltered Internet they will not know how to use good judgment and precautions. It is important that schools continue to educate children about Internet safety from an early age using tools such as the video above.

Though some believe that the Children’s Internet Protection Act does more harm than good, I believe that any step to protect children from obscene content is a good choice.