Apparently the arguement is that the Government can require anything that they want in exchange for federal funding.

What were the specifics of the finding in the case pertaining to filtering software in libraries? As I recall, the outcome was that they could put filtering software in place, but it had to be turned off if it was requested by a non-minor. Granted, this applies to situations where minors are involved, but I'd be interested to look at the specific wording of the case law on record.

Either way, this whole thing is really stupid. There should be some fallout for this, but I fear it will just fall right off the radar. I hope a way arises to challenge this. We were both running dial-up BBS systems when we were 16. Yes, it was nerdy.. But it had real positive effects on everyone I know who did the same thing. Here, the technology is open to the masses, there is no longer anything nerdy about it, and an entire generation of kids that could benefit are getting locked out of it.

One of the problems with kids and online technology, is that they have to have a clue about protecting themselves. Since this involves school computer labs and whatnot, there is an opportunity to teach/coach kids in how to protect themselves online, and that opportunity is being flushed down the drain. I think the net impact in the end is going to be the opposite of what it aims to achieve.

RE: GovTrack: H.R. 5319: Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006(Vote On Passage)