********* Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 14:06:15 -0700 From: Will Doherty <wildat_private> Subject: EFF: CHIPA Internet Blocking Protests CHIPA Internet Blocking Law Protests Electronic Frontier Foundation Media Advisory, April 20, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, April 20, 2001 Nationwide Protests Counter CHIPA Internet Blocking Legislation Growing Opposition to Internet Blocking in Schools and Libraries Contacts: Will Doherty, Online Activist / Media Relations, wildat_private, 415-436-9333 Katina Bishop, Offline Activist, katinaat_private, 415-436-9333 x101 April 20, 2001 -- Activists opposed to Internet blocking are protesting implementation of Congressionally-mandated Internet blocking in schools and libraries. The protests will take place at Federal Communications Commission offices and other federal offices, as well as in "blackouts" of websites in support of the protest. "The government-mandated requirement for Internet blocking in schools and libraries violates the free expression rights of American, adults and minors alike," explained Will Doherty, EFF Online Activist. "We must protest Congressionally-mandated Internet blocking because it censors Constitutionally-protected materials, stunts the intellectual growth of American children, and weighs unfairly on disadvantaged and 'controversial' communities." Internet blocking technologies underblock what they are supposed to block and overblock what they are not supposed to block. They rely on subjective control from software product companies many of whom exhibit clear political and religious biases, rather than relying on local communities to decide for themselves. The products are error-prone, vulnerable, problematic, and unfairly discriminatory, denying access to constitutionally protected and educationally important materials that schools and libraries would otherwise provide. Government-mandated censorship does not solve problems better handled through local decision making and educational efforts. Some protests will take place at offices of the Federal Communications Commission because it is the agency tasked by Congress with enforcement of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CHIPA a.k.a. CIPA) blocking law. EFF, along with co-sponsors such as the Online Policy Group ( http://www.onlinepolicy.org ) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), called the protests to demonstrate the widespread public opposition to use of Internet blocking in schools and libraries. The San Francisco Bay Area protest will take place at 12:00 noon on Friday, April 20, in front of the FCC office at 5653 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 105, Pleasanton, California 94588 (30 minute walk from Dublin/Pleasanton BART). The Long Island protest will take place at 12:00 noon on Friday, April 20, at the Federal Court Building on Carlton Ave., just north of the Southern State Parkway, Central Islip, Long Island. Please contact Alex Urbelis at 631-589-2205 (home), 631-467-8844 (work) or by email at alexat_private More information on the Internet blocking protests is available on the EFF website at: http://www.eff.org/br/br1.html The Electronic Frontier Foundation ( http://www.eff.org ) is the leading civil liberties organization working to protect rights in the digital world. Founded in 1990, EFF actively encourages and challenges industry and government to support free expression, privacy, and openness in the information society. EFF is a member-supported organization and maintains one of the most-linked-to websites in the world. - end - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if it remains intact. To subscribe, visit http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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