Main Promoter Of Utah's Anti-Porn Law Stands To Profit From The Law

from the surprise,-surprise dept

Is it any surprise that one of the biggest backers of Utah's overreaching and misguided anti-porn law actually is likely to profit tremendously from the law? It turns out that one of the main supporters of the bill just happens to run a company that sells web porn filters. The law, if you don't remember, requires ISPs to block access to a specific list of sites. In other words, those ISPs need filters. While the guy in question says his filters are for home use, not ISPs, apparently no one told others at the firm -- because sales people from the firm have approached ISPs since the law was passed. Of course, either way, this law is quite problematic. It isn't the ISPs who have done anything wrong, but the sites hosting the content. Utah should go after those sites -- not the ISPs. Since a similar law in Pennsylvania was tossed out by the courts, it's likely that this law will be facing quite a battle. In the meantime, though, it's biggest supporter will keep on selling software in support of the law.
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  1. identicon
    No Porn Boy, 20 Apr 2005 @ 4:02am

    What about Newsgroups?

    The worst porn out there is not on websites, but in newsgroups. This is where cops routinely find child pornography.

    These are not websites in far off lands, these are pictures posted to newsgroups which are stored locally on the ISP's servers. If the ISP will not discriminate in what files they store on their own servers, then they need to be slapped.

    Millions of women and children are exploited by this barbaric and sick industry. Perpetrators need to be brought to justice.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    crystalattice, 20 Apr 2005 @ 5:19am

    Who decides what's "obscene"?

    These filters have to have someone looking at web sites and deciding what's obscene, right? So who are the people looking at these sites? Certainly not anyone affiliated w/ EFF, ACLU, or any other 1st Amendment loving group.

    One of the worst filter programs I've read about is BSafe (www.bsafe.com). This thing is pushed by the ultra-conservative right wing (you can see it on the opening page) and filters info that could be extremely useful to people, including terrorist info, health sites, dating sites, etc. I find people that filter crap because of a personal agenda offensive.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Beck, 20 Apr 2005 @ 11:04am

    Re: Who decides what's "obscene"?

    I think we should decide. Utah should send us the list of blocked sites so we can review the sites and confirm that they should be blocked.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2005 @ 12:20am

    Re: What about Newsgroups?

    Yes and a lot of sex crimes are done in hotel/motel rooms! Hotels should be responsible for checking what’s going on in their rooms!! Install cameras in every room and bathroom and employ highly trained personal to catch it before it happens!! (forget about the 99% normal people, and pushing rates way up.

    BILLIONS of men woman and children are exploited by extremists and the sick industry that tries to keep all things 'clean' and slap laws around in an attempt to stop this sort of stuff.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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