CSC 379 SUM2008:Week 4, Group 3
Many municipalities are beginning to provide free (taxpayer- or advertising-funded) citywide wireless Internet access. Many municipalities are also considering filtering the connections, usually to stop pornography. However, allowing the government to control information flow is fraught with danger to free speech, especially in the absence of any laws limiting the government's authority. Examine the ethical considerations posed by filtering of municipal WAN connections.
Dangers of Internet Filtering
- Who decides what is appropriate and what isn't?
- The first amendment guarantees the right to free speech, how can the government justify blocking certain webpages?
- What criteria are used to decide whether a website is obscene?
- Example: Denver airports block "racy" content
- Who is and isn't allowed to access certain material on public networks?
- Example: Oregon County Libraries propose age-based internet filters
Links and Resources
Censorship with your Free Wifi? Computer World [1] How many states censor? [2] [3]