Raw Story
Friday, February 16, 2007

A bill introduced by Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) would block social networking programs and other popular websites from computers at public libraries and computers.

The blog Passport run by the magazine Foreign Policy writes that “The man who gave us the ‘series of tubes’ metaphor for the Internet now wants to take away Myspace, Wikipedia, and other social networking websites.”

The problem with the bill, according to Foreign Policy is the vague language in the section that describes which websites should be forbidden.

The bill mandates public schools and libraries to protect against access to “visual depictions” that are “obscene,” “child pornography,” or “harmful to minors”.

It also bans access commercial social networking websites and chatrooms and requires administrators to inform parents that “sexual predators can use these websites and chat rooms to prey on children.”

Stevens is ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where the bill has been referred. The committee is chaired by Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI).

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