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Should It Be Legal To Release Certain “indecent” Content In Print But Not Electronically Through The Internet? This Question
| Term Paper Title |
Should It Be Legal To Release Certain “indecent” Content In Print But Not Electronically Through The Internet? This Question |
| # of Words |
1998 |
| # of Pages (250 words per page double spaced) |
7.99 |
Should it be legal to release certain indecent content in print but not electronically through the Internet? This question has plagued many in years past and will continue to be a source of controversy for years to come. Supporters of Internet censorship believe that this new information medium, currently unregulated and expanding at an alarming rate, must be filtered and controlled to avoid the risk of so-called undesirable content being easily accessible by minors (or, in some cases, anyone). The goal of these individuals and organizations is, essentially, to have laws put in place like those to which the television and radio industry are subjected. Many others strongly oppose any type of Internet censorship; they, along with other arguments, cite United States citizens constitutional right to Freedom of Speech. The majority of these advocates propose self-regulation for concerned individuals (such as parents). For the majority, the quick expansion of the Internet has come as a surprise; and matters such as this should be taken into careful consideration for the future of the Internet, our children, and, to some extent, our society.
At first, the Internet was only used by military personnel for national security purposes. Then, its horizon broadened to include computer hobbyists and corporations. Now, because of its flexibility and ease of use, it is part of the life of mainstream America. Because of this so-called explosion in the number of households and institutions going online, some have suggested that the Internet be regulated to keep indecent and vulgar content from appearing. Although bills have been proposed to do just what these people wish, as of this point, all of them have been struck down in the United States Congress.
Pro Internet Censorship
Bills such as the Protection of Children from Computer Pornography Act of 1995 (PCCPA) began to appear before the House and Senate when organizations such as Enough is Enough lobbied the Senate for legislation to protect children from online pornography:
Women speak with a special authority on the issue of pornographyfor we, and our children are its primary subjectsand its primary victims. Pornography demeans and degrades women, victimizes children and ruins men. It contributes to domestic and spouse abuse, rape, incest and child molestation. And a great share of it is not protected speech, any more than libel, slander or false advertising is protected speech; therefore, it is not a 1st Am
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