Internet Pornography Censorship vs Free Speech -- Internet Pornography

The net is a worldwide network of computers and databases that has evolved rapidly in recent years. Tremendous amounts of information are transmitted and are fairly easy to obtain. Although in the past the information available was for the almost part educational and business oriented, in recent years it has perplex much more diverse and questions have been raised as to the justness of the content being viewed and consumed. Another issue is whether or not the governing body should take an active role in censoring it, especially when it comes to pornography, or cyberporn, as it is more commonly referred to when it is displayed on the net profit. Should cyberporn be censored? If so, who is responsible, parents or the government? Is Internet censorship the solution, or a violation of the graduation exercise amendment? The citizens of a democracy must make these kinds of decisions while simultaneously maintaining independence and responsibility on the Internet. BACKGRO UND OF THE PROBLEMPornography on the Internet and the ease at which it can be accessed has been a very controversial issue, especially in the last ten years. The Internet was largely unregulated until 1996 when the Communication Decency Act, a portion of the Telecommunications act, was proposed. The Communication Decency Act, or the CDA, made it abominable to make or solicit any image or pass on that was obscene or indecent. (Wekesser 106), But how do we define hurt with an ambiguity such as these. The Court in Miller-constructed the modern description of obscene The basic guidelines of the trier of fact must be must be (a) whether the average person, applying contemporary community standards would flummox that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient... ... a democracy must achieve a knowing medium. I agree that much of the cyberporn that is attainable is inappropriate, especially when it involves children in plane a remotely sexual manner. However, cens orship is not the answer. We must find a way to practice freedom of expression while maintaining decency and presumptuous responsibility, as individuals, for our children.BibliographyWorks CitedElmer-Dewitt, Philip (1995) On A Screen Near You Cyberporn. Time, July 1995Ford, Marrin, Esposito, Witmeyer & Gleser, stool Congress Censor The Internet? L.L.P., 1996 Simon, Glenn E. (1998), Cyberporn and censorship constitutional barriers to preventing access to Internet pornography by minors. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, v88 n3 p1015-1048.Wekesser, Carol. (1997). Pornography oppose viewpoints. California Greenhaven Press, Inc.