Preview

Libraries Should Use Software Filters for Internet Access

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
887 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Libraries Should Use Software Filters for Internet Access
Libraries Should Use Software Filters for Internet Access

Public libraries provide us with a large amount of information. Residents can borrow books from libraries. Libraries also provide Internet access for everyone, including children. Since parents cannot control what then children are seeing on the Internet in libraries, children can access pornographic or violent sites easily. So, public libraries should restrict Internet access by utilizing filtering software to prevent children from seeing those inappropriate sites. The American Libraries Association (ALA) insists that it is improper for public libraries to use filtering software since libraries have to provide broad materials for patrons. Their claim that filtering software may limit one’s access to legitimate information may be valid. The ALA has stated: Current blocking/filtering software prevents not only access to what some consider “objectionable” material, but also blocks information protected by the Fist Amendment. The result is that legal and useful material will inevitably be blocked. Examples of sites that have been blocked by popular commercial blocking/filtering products include those on breast cancer, AIDS, women’s rights, and animal rights (“Statement on Internet Filtering” 2). Those sites can be restricted by filtering software. But, filtering software does not restrict all the materials on breast cancer, AIDS, women’s rights, and animal rights. The ALA states that blocking/filtering software is a mechanism used to restrict access to scanning content based on a keyword, phrase, or text (American Libraries Association 2). Some of there sites are blocked simply because they may contain words that filtering software is programmed to block. Those cites which is restricted might contain a lot of words recognized as “inappropriate” such as the word “sex”. So, filtering software may occasionally not being able to access those sites to be inappropriate site due to this content. However,

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    United States vs. ALA

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages

    IMPACT/IMPLICATION: Persons age eighteen and older have the right to access information that allows them to explore and gather information at public libraries. The outcome of this case says that if a library patron requests access to Internet information which is blocked, the website shall be made available according to CIPA. Public libraries may choose to use filters they deem appropriate for their patrons, and they should have an Internet acceptable use policy for Internet use.…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Emotional abuse is when child is not given love, approval or acceptance. A child may be constantly criticised, blamed, sworn and shouted at, told that other people are…

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The internet is a common resource which is now easily accessible to all. It can also expose children and young people to unsuitable sites and harmful material. Children and young people are more at risk of exposure to inappropriate or criminal behaviour if they are unaware of the dangers. All schools have firewall or other types of services that block inappropriate site, so that children can’t access certain website whist in school. Some parents tent to do the same and try to also block all pop up on their computer at home…

    • 327 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    For the past twenty or so years information has largely been stored in digital form, providing the current generation of digital natives with access to more and more information in recent years. With this new flow of information available to the public has come increased censoring by the government. However, this is not a new issue as some might believe. Since the first primitive government was established information has been shielded and manipulated from the every day citizens of the world by those in power. The cause fought against information censorship enjoys the same past. For as long as information has been censored there have been those who have fought against it (Newth, 2010). This issue has arisen particularly in the United States, as some believe access to any information that exists is a right protected by the Constitution.…

    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Ethical School Filters

    • 1268 Words
    • 6 Pages

    And statistics vary on the extent to which children have been exposed to inappropriate material on the Internet at school. A Consumer Reports test of popular filter software found most allowed access to as many as one in five objectionable Web pages while blocking access to legitimate ones. Filters have blocked Web sites about the movie "Babe," a film about a pig, and the catering service "Let's Have an Affair. In some cases, filters block harmless sites merely because their software does not consider the context in which a word or phrase is used. At Intermediate School 93 in Ridgewood, students were researching the election stalemate today when an eighth grader came across a web site that used foul language. It slipped through the board of education's Internet filter and so did suggestive photos. But most of the time, students are frustrated because the filter limits their resources. One seventh grader wanted to study Tino Martinez. He couldn't. Same for Jackie Robinson. Also, ancient Olympic games were access denied because the board of education software blocks sports as a subject (American). These issues should be taken up with the school district itself. They are the ones who determine what will be blocked and can override certain subject areas and words. It is important to keep in mind that some sites use incorrect names or deliberately misspell words for their website so that it can bypass a filter. It is these types of people that children need to be protected…

    • 1268 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    “In 2001, the International Telecommunication Union calculated that, approximately 2.3 billion people had internet access at the end of that year. Since then, the percentage of people using the internet around the world has continued to grow” (Li 2). Censoring the internet has been a hot topic for quite a while now. Many people believe that censoring the web isn’t a good thing because of certain laws and rights we have as citizens. The internet has some cons but it also has many pros. The downside of the censorship is that the truth is blocked out and it violates our freedom of speech. On the other hand, censorship of the internet can reduce the numbers or even stop human trafficking, prevent identity theft, stop cyber bullying and so much…

    • 1051 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Censorship, in true form, is the systematic banning of books, the Internet, or other literature due to content that has been deemed inappropriate. In the United States, it is used widely in the context of adolescent literature. Resistors to this movement often claim that the government is violating many children’s first amendment rights. Numerous cases have been brought. Others find this act of restricting material devastating to the education system. Censorship has infringed on children’s first amendment rights and has violated the civil liberties of American youth.…

    • 1536 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    We all want the Internet to be fun and safe place where everyone can go and enjoy the great benefits it offers. Pro-censorship groups do not want to see someone’s freedom of speech to be taken away from them. Every citizen is guaranteed even if it is on the Internet. Likewise, anti-censorship groups do not want children being exposed to inappropriate…

    • 325 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Banning books puts an end to true freedom of expression. As the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States states "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press." As Americans we have the right to express what we feel and our opinions. How could our country just disregard what was given to us as a right by our founding fathers. People worry about censoring explicit content from children, but you can always put age restrictions on books just as we do to movies, TV shows, and games. It does not require going to the full extreme of completely taking away the book from the public eye. People cannot just put an end to our freedom as if people haven't fought and died for the privileges that we have today. It is certainly not allowing for freedom of speech if people are censoring others' beliefs and opinions.…

    • 606 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    law assignment USA

    • 1767 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The first amendment protects the freedom of speech. This case of Reno v American Civil Liberties Union represents an interesting debate on protection of freedom of speech versus regulation of material which is regarded indecent. The subject matter in this case was the Communication Decency Act against Internet on the issue of indecency. The case compared Internet with Library, Television and Public Place. However, in comparing with these mediums, Internet appears to be slightly, if not majorly, different. It is because, when compared with the television, the internet user might have to go…

    • 1767 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Censorship in America

    • 281 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Taylor, Charles. "Censorship is Not an Effective Way to Protect Children." n.d. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 8 April 2012.…

    • 281 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    First, there are children in the libraries, and we should protect them from seeing things that they should not see. Children can learn a lot from the internet. There are many sites they can visit to help them with homework. However, their curiosity may lead them to websites not viable for children. The internet filters software can protect them from this danger. Also, most library filters leave the choice of what to block in the hands of the filter administrator who selects the categories to block, so the people ask library staffers the permission to access the websites that are blocked.…

    • 486 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Censorship is caused when books, movies, etc. are examined, and unacceptable parts are suppressed or the whole thing is banned. Schools nationwide have been banning books due to reasons such as racial issues, sexual explicit content, religious affiliations, violence, political bias, encouragement of “damaging” lifestyles, and etc. Often it is argued that banning books protects students from being exposed to inappropriate content, while others say that students should have the freedom to read what they want.…

    • 147 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first amendment: freedom of speech is violated with censorship. In the ALA Library Bill of Rights, parents, and only parents, have the right to prohibit or control what their children read. Freedom of expression and of opinion is for everyone, not just for the people that the majority thinks are right. In 1953, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas said, “Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could easily defeat us,”(Quotations: First Amendment, Censorship…). This shows that even the government can see the harmful effects of book banning. Furthermore, “the school alone has the final say in what books are appropriate for the children under its care to read,…

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    With children doing so much of their school work and research on the internet it is important to try to maintain a safe, appropriate environment especially when they are using the internet at school or the library. “The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a federal law enacted by Congress to address concerns about access to offensive content over the Internet on school and library computers. CIPA imposes certain types of requirements on any school or library that receives funding for Internet access or internal connections from the E-rate program – a program that makes certain communications technology more affordable for eligible schools and libraries. In early 2001, the FCC issued rules implementing CIPA.” (FCC, n.d.). CIPA was enacted to protect children while they use the internet at school or libraries where they should feel safe from being exposed to inappropriate material. This act is not…

    • 794 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays