The colossal debate of the twenty first century is at the focal point of today's society, which reaches from our state and local governments to our federal government. The world wasn't prepared for the invention of the Internet and certainly not the onslaught of pornographic websites. Unlike many things in America, the Internet is unregulated and uncontrolled. Therefore, the content can range from cookbooks to hardcore pornography. A child can access hardcore pornography from any children's computer terminal in several public libraries. Congress and the President have attempted to pass laws to put filters on computers in libraries. Only one such law has passed; it is called The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). This Act mandates libraries to put filters on children's computers if they want to receive federal funding. This Act has fueled a great controversy on whether or not it violates our first amendment rights, and if the government has the right to do so. There can be times and situations when children are left unsupervised, and they may fall victim to websites that some might feel inappropriate and offensive. After reviewing the information, I feel that filters should be placed on children's computers in the libraries, because children can easily access unwanted and inappropriate sites.
             The Internet is a broadcast medium and therefore is subject to regulation like radio and television. The Justice Department reported, "Without filters in place, the Internet threatens to give every child a free pass into the equivalent of every adult video and bookstore." This statement also applies to libraries and how easily by the click of the mouse our children can access this. In a Time magazine article titled "Cyberporn", Elmer-De Witt writes, "It is clear that pornography is being vigorously marketed in increasingly sophisticated ways." Most hardcore porno
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