Health research at risk

The Internet is a huge avenue of information, which makes it extremely difficult to block specific material from falling into the hands of children -- namely pornography.\nA three-judge panel recently denied the final attempt made by Congress, known as the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), to require public libraries to install Internet filters on their computer systems. These filters would be set up to block Web sites containing objectionable content that would be construed as "harmful to minors," but many sites with terms and photographs that are meant strictly for educational purposes would also be at risk for being blocked. \nAt adolescence, children are learning about their bodies and the numerous changes that occur, and much research on the topic is done in a public library setting. These Internet filters wouldn't be capable of differentiating between such terms as "sex" or "intercourse" when it comes to a pornography site or educational Web page. If Congress' law was to pass, children and teenagers -- and anyone for that matter -- would be denied the right of access to potentially crucial information. Blocking the pornographic material is a good idea in theory, but it would keep individuals from informative content. \nIn its effort to require the filters, Congress said it would begin stripping funds if the libraries didn't abide by the rules and install the filters on all of their systems. But, since the Internet is so large and so widespread, any effort to block the prurient material reaches beyond its intended purpose. If it wishes to protect children, the government should require more feasible regulations, such as requiring an adult to be present when accessing the Internet or requiring consent from an adult before utilizing an unfiltered machine.\nRegardless, the CIPA was laid out with good intentions. Children should not have access nor be exposed to various types of obscene materials found on the Web. But with such easy access to a large amount of information there comes a price, and cutting library funding is not the answer. It's on the adults to monitor children's activities on-line, not Congress.\n