Even though the blogosphere may be breaking new ground for open communication, it's hard not to forget that old joke that the Internet is good for one thing, and one thing only: pornography.
Well, critics of the Child Online Protection Act and porno fans everywhere can rest easy, as that maxim won't be changing anytime soon. A federal judge struck down a 1998 U.S. law on Thursday that made it a crime for commercial Web site operators to let children access "harmful" material, saying that parents can protect their children through software filters and other less restrictive means that do not limit the rights of others to free speech.
"Perhaps we do the minors of this country harm if (free speech) protections, which they will with age inherit fully, are chipped away in the name of their protection," wrote Senior U.S. District Judge Lowell Reed Jr., who presided over a four-week trial last fall.
The Net is full of so many sick, depraved things that pornography seems like it should be the least of everyone's worries. Besides, it's like a billion dollar business that practically relies on the Internet for revenue. But kudos for keeping the porn up and online. The Internet just wouldn't be the same without it.
Cristina Gonzalez @ Mon, 03/26/2007 - 1:08pm
Good for this judge. If parents don't have the brains to protect their own children, then I feel sorry for the poor children who have to be raised with irresponsible parents. It is not the government's job to protect our children from the media. Audiences would react violently if independent channels on TV showed nudity at 3pm in the afternoon--the government doesn't have to tell us it is "wrong."
So yes, the Internet is still for porn and I am entirely for that. Good for you. If you want porn, go for it. If you are a parent, put filters on your computer so your kids can't get it. But don't expect the government to shut down Internet porn sites just because you, as a parent, are too lazy to protect your own children.