Interactive computing is found in places like the Internet, a loose agglomeration of computing networks that enables the user to access vast amounts of information from sources all over the world. The Internet is notorious for being difficult to learn and to traverse, but those who manage to learn can access huge amounts of printed data, images, and even video on a limited basis. As access to the Internet in its various forms becomes more prevalent, including the World Wide Web, Usenet Groups, and bulletin board services through such access providers as America On-Line, Prodigy, and CompuServe, parents and government officials have become more concerned about the possibility that children will be able to access areas of the Internet containing obscene materials, pornographic images, and even pedophiles on line looking for young people. This concern has led to proposals for the screening of material on the Internet and even for possible censorship.
Magid (1995a) refers to one such proposal offered by Senator James Exon of Nebraska. The stated aim of the legislation is to stop pornography on cyberspace, but Magid says the effect would be to give the government the right to censor everything from on-line discussion groups to private electronic mail. The bill seems straightforward enough in that it amends the Communications Act of 1934 by replacing the word "telephone" with "telecommunications equipment" in order to make provisions pertaining to obscene or harassing telephone calls also apply to messages posted on electronic bulletin boards and in discussion groups. The bill would impose fines of up to $100,000 and prison sentences of up to two years on anyone who "makes, transmits, or otherwise makes available any comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image, or other communication which is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or indecent," and the claim is made by Exon that this would stop pornography on the Internet. Magid (1...