Tempest meet Teapot
Posted by jen July 29th, 2006 in Jeneral.So the DOPA act passed. Banning ’social networking’ sites such as the fearsome pedo-laden Myspace on school and public library computers.
Adults would have have to ask librians nicely, or maybe adult accounts will be able to get out of the prospective firewalls, but somehow I don’t think it will work that way. Call me cyncial.
This bill bans any site that:
(i) is offered by a commercial entity;
(ii) permits registered users to create an on-line profile that includes detailed personal information;
(iii) permits registered users to create an on-line journal and share such a journal with other users;
(iv) elicits highly-personalized information from users; and
(v) enables communication among users.’.
The problem is they don’t name specific sites and the sites affected in this age of the web are far wider ranging than I think any of them have the capacity to understand.
First, we already have COPPA remember? No, I guess they don’t. They thought that would solve everything!
Now I’m not saying, as I was arguing with Grillboy in AIM, that internet access is a civil right. It’s not. Food should be a right. How ever I do belive access is access. Either offer it or don’t. It’s useful or it’s not. In this day and age the internet is not for the upper middle class, if anything it’s a equalizer. You need it to find jobs, plan yourlife, find out what is going on in your town, the weather, news etc. It’s a tool.
To me it’s equal to cutting of minors from reading newspapers (which the Newspapers Publishers Association were encourgang via a series of commericals a couple of years ago, despite there being personal ads, shocking pictures or graphic news in them)
Being banned as I understand it are any sites where you can “build a profile” of personal information or can freely convervse with others on the site.
So, common web forums are out. (Even ones that could be useful like history, local, educational, or genelogical in basis.) So’s Flickr, Amazon, Ebay, AIM/MSN/Yahoo, YouTube, ilounge, Metafilter, Blogger, MoveableType, LiveJournal, Fark, DailyKos. As well as any site/blog with a ‘remember me’ button? personal info is stored ina cookie. How far are they willing to take it?
Would those job sites where you you are usually required, if not encouraged to make a profile complete with resume be banned too? (Hey people who don’t have a computer have to look for work online.)
I guess halfassed flailing Chicken Lttles are what I’m used to any more, after all “the internet is a series of tubes”.
3 Responses to “Tempest meet Teapot”
Leave a Reply
Library firewalls will likely not be bypassable unless the law allows for adults to specify they’re adults, the way it now works to meet COPA and CIPA requirments. Even staff at NYPL have to click that we’re over 18 before we can access some sites. And of course, it misses some nudity while blocking some sites I’ve never been able to figure out why.
Unless the law says the restrictions are for people below a specified age, it will apply to everyone and that includes people using wireless connections to the library’s server in those branches that are wired for WiFi.
Think about all the people whose computers are in the shop and use library pcs to check ebay, amazon, and other sites with public or social network profiles. Even, gasp, blogging sites. Then think about all the people too poor to afford their own computers.
I have to stop now. I’m feeling ill just thinking about it.
And my position still hasn’t changed, even without the Lortab and lack of sleep.
It is only schools and libraries, after all and is just not that big of a deal. I am not buying the “slippery slope” theory here. If you need to look for a job using the internet you will still be able to do so at a variety of job centers located in just about every city. There will still be access at internet cafes and other places, right?
Explain to me why someone would need to be shopping at Amazon and updating their blog at school or the library? Wait until you get home, for pete’s sake. I know, some folks are poor and might not be able to afford a computer but life is not fair sometimes. If someone doesn’t have enough money for a stereo or a television we don’t feel we have to provide them with listening stations or a viewing lounge somewhere, do we?
As far as not being able to access your blog or check Ebay and Fark while your computer is at the shop, boo freaking hoo. Get out of the house, spend time with your kids or friends, read a book. You will survive.
Keep up the great work on your blog. Best wishes WaltDe