Senator Stevens submitted the following statement for the record:
The Internet is a dynamic space where Americans turn to get information, do research, and exchange ideas.
Given the increasingly important role of the Internet in education and commerce, it differs from other media like TV and cable because parents cannot prevent their children from using the Internet altogether. The headlines continue to tell us of children who are victimized online. While the issues are difficult, I believe Congress has an important role to play to ensure that the protections available in other parts of our society find their way to the Internet. Since introducing the Protecting Children Online in the 21st Century Act, my staff and I have worked with a wide variety of advocacy groups on this topic. In response to the feedback we have received, my staff are currently circulating a new draft wth four primary goals.
Ironically, in the real world outside the beltway, TIME Magazine just named ‘You,’ the end user, its Person of the Year for 2006, proclaiming on the mylar mirrored cover, "Yes, you. You control the Information Age. Welcome to Your World." It would appear that the rejoinder is being written by Congress and it is, “Not in this school; not in this library." So while we exhort administrators and flog teachers to bring schooling into the 21st Century of technology use, our government officials are creating fear-based regulations that continue to make it near impossible to do anything meaningful with technology other than drill students on self-contained local networks of canned curricular material. Maybe I should have entitled this blog entry, Congress Seeks Restrictions on TIME Mag. Person of the Year, because that is the net effect (pun intended).
The problem I see with this bill, as with many bills proposed by either party, is that on the surface it appears to address a certain obvious problem. In this case, the general theme is that we are trying to protect our children from digital predators, unscrupulous marketing agencies, oh yes, and themselves. It sends the message, what sort of person would NOT want to protect our children? And places those who oppose the bill’s other tenets in a very uncomfortable position. The question is, what is the unspoken intent and resultant fall-out of this bill should it become law?
In both cases, these bills, which are based on a fundamentally wrong-headed understanding of the issues they are designed to address, attracted or are likely to attract significant levels of bipartisan support. Indeed, in a highly partisan political climate, these kind of bills may be the only pieces of legislation which pass with little or no debate and with overwhelming support.
S. 49 would amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent the carriage of child pornography by video service providers, to protect children from online predators, and to restrict the sale or purchase of children's personal information in interstate commerce.
From an educator’s perspective, there’s no doubt the focus of discussion will be on Title II of the bill. Very little has changed since the original DOPA language was introduced in May 2007. I’m sure that the anti-cyberbullying aspects of the bill will be seen as a step in the right direction, though its lack of clarity on the subject may raise some eyebrows. Even with this language, though, educa
Title II, or what Carvin is calling DOPA Jr., is a misguided lawmaker's attempt to use legislation to fix some of the messy issues that have arisen from totally wired teenagers' widespread use of the Net.
A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent the carriage of child pornography by video service providers, to protect children from online predators, and to restrict the sale or purchase of children's personal information in interstate commerce.
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Cyberbullying by a neighbor mom causes a tragedy.
Senator Stevens submitted the following statement for the record: The Internet is a dynamic space where Americans turn to get information, do research, and exchange ideas. Given the increasingly important role of the Internet in education and commerce, it differs from other media like TV and cable because parents cannot prevent their children from using the Internet altogether. The headlines continue to tell us of children who are victimized online. While the issues are difficult, I believe Congress has an important role to play to ensure that the protections available in other parts of our society find their way to the Internet. Since introducing the Protecting Children Online in the 21st Century Act, my staff and I have worked with a wide variety of advocacy groups on this topic. In response to the feedback we have received, my staff are currently circulating a new draft wth four primary goals.
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