This library computer/filter/porn issue comes up a lot in my life, for obvious reasons. Most librarians are against it (as is the ALA), and I only wish more people knew how many of them are willing to put their jobs on the line every single day for otherwise ungrateful people who criticize them for trying protect everyone's rights.
Also, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
1. Libraries are not required by law to provide Internet access or, indeed, any sort of computer access. However, many do so as a courtesy to their patrons.
2. Many libraries have an Internet Use Policy in place (and the ones that don't probably should), and some even make you sign a form that says you promise you won't use the library computers to access illegal materials. Basically, libraries are putting their trust in users not to go and look at kiddie porn or whatever...users that do so are betraying that trust.
3. Anyone who is relying solely on filters to keep their kids "safe" is going to be disappointed, b/c--as you've noted--filters are just software and can't really determine if what they're blocking is health information or pornography. Education of users is the only real way to ensure safe navigation.
4. Similarly, people have this misguided notion that Internet filters are this altruistic entity and that they exist to protect children. They don't. They exist to make money for the companies that create them. If these companies can sell more filtering software by telling people that their product will block all the "bad" sites, then that's what they're going to do.
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Date: 2007-05-03 03:27 pm (UTC)Also, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
1. Libraries are not required by law to provide Internet access or, indeed, any sort of computer access. However, many do so as a courtesy to their patrons.
2. Many libraries have an Internet Use Policy in place (and the ones that don't probably should), and some even make you sign a form that says you promise you won't use the library computers to access illegal materials. Basically, libraries are putting their trust in users not to go and look at kiddie porn or whatever...users that do so are betraying that trust.
3. Anyone who is relying solely on filters to keep their kids "safe" is going to be disappointed, b/c--as you've noted--filters are just software and can't really determine if what they're blocking is health information or pornography. Education of users is the only real way to ensure safe navigation.
4. Similarly, people have this misguided notion that Internet filters are this altruistic entity and that they exist to protect children. They don't. They exist to make money for the companies that create them. If these companies can sell more filtering software by telling people that their product will block all the "bad" sites, then that's what they're going to do.
This is ALA's stance, if you're curious.