overviewfrequently asked questionscases & resources
  FAQs >
 
What’s the First Amendment issue with legislation against cyberstalking?
 
Why should ‘virtual’ child pornography be thought of any differently than child pornography?
 
What about using images from other Web sites on my own site?
 
Can I use a company's logo for a parody Web site?
 
Has Congress stepped in to change the laws regarding copyright and the Internet?
 
What are 'gripe sites' or 'cybergripers'?
 
Why is the concept of 'local community standards' difficult to apply to the Internet?
 
Do 'gripe sites' violate federal trademark laws?
 
What is the Federal Trademark Dilution Act of 1996?
 
I got kicked off AOL for cursing in several messages. Doesn’t that violate my free speech?
 
What is the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act of 1999 and does it prohibit gripe sites?
 
Are there laws prohibiting spam?
 
Does using filters to block parts of the Internet violate the First Amendment?
 
Internet filters give librarians control in order to protect children from harmful material. What’s the objection?
 
Can public schools use Internet filters to block students' access to specific Web sites?
 
 

Yes. In 2000, Congress passed the Children’s Internet Protection Act, which requires public schools and public libraries to install a “technology protection measure” and to adopt an Internet-use policy in order to receive federal funds for Internet hookups. Lawsuits were filed challenging the sections of the law dealing with public libraries, but not those pertaining to public schools, and in June 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in United States v. American Library Ass’n Inc. that mandatory filtering in public libraries does not violate the First Amendment. School officials can add any Web site they want to their list of blocked sites, but if someone objects to blocking a particular site, administrators must show that doing so furthers the compelling government interest of protecting minors.

 
 
Could the president sue me if I posted a message critical of him?
 
Can’t patrons ask librarians to override filters when mistakes are made?
 
Aren't ISPs required to conceal their clients' identities?
 
Who is affected by the U.S. v. ALA ruling?
 
How much influence do private companies have over access?
 
Some states have laws against SLAPPs. Do they apply to online libel lawsuits?
 
Would filtering the Internet at public colleges and universities violate the First Amendment?
 
After U.S. v. ALA, are there any other legal options?
 
What is a blog?
 
Does blogging raise First Amendment issues?
 
Can public employees be disciplined for the content of their blogs?
 
What would be wrong with banning all child pornography, virtual or real?
 
Has Congress ever tried to prohibit hate speech on the Internet?
 
View All Answers    Clear All Answers
 
print this   Print


Last system update: Saturday, November 21, 2009 | 04:49:16
 SEARCH  MORE
Internet & First Amendment issues >
Filtering
Indecency online
Spam
Cybersquatting
Online libel
Hate speech online
Virtual child pornography
Copyright, P2P & Google
Cyberstalking
Blogging