Introduction and Purpose
The topic assigned for my bibliography was children and the Internet
culture. I narrowed the topic to moral and ethical aspects and how those
relate to Internet usage by youth. The bibliography titled, Issues Related
to Youth Access of the Internet, provides useful resources for information
professionals who work with students, parents and teachers and need to
stay current on issues relating to cyberspace. The purpose of the
bibliography is to present resources that explore what makes up the
Internet culture and what different social groups are advocating with
regard to free speech and use of censorship on the Internet. Youth access
to information is dependent upon freedom of speech and opposition to
censorship. Information professionals will be asked to advise students,
parents and teachers in determining what is helpful or what is harmful on
the Internet. The resources listed provide an overview of available
materials that will direct the reader to current information on Internet
usage and access by children. Sub-topics within the bibliography include
an overview of the Internet culture and specific areas of concern that will
affect youth access to information, such as legal issues on the Internet,
and freedom of expression which includes freedom of speech, censorship
and cyberporn.
Overview of Search Procedures
Since my topic revolves around the Internet, many of the resources I
found were Internet sites that linked related sites . Debate on censorship
and children's usage of the Internet is a very current topic, and with the
passage of the Telecommunication bill (specifically the section that
includes the Communication Decency Act), discussion on the Net is very
active. The currency of the topic means that I found a limited number of
books available while a large number of resources were found on the
Internet as websites and on-line articles. The resources available on the
Internet could be accessed by using search engines that allow keyword and
boolean searches. The main search engines I used were Webcrawler and
Yahoo. These searches provided several possible sites with summary
information. Each site provided links to other sites with hypertext, and I
bookmarked appropriate sites so that I could return at a later date. The
following search terms used separately and combined aided my search:
Internet, information superhighway, computer network(s),communication,
computer mediated communication, children, culture, society, social
aspects, moral and ethical aspects, ethics, freedom of speech, censorship,
law. Interestingly, using Internet culture as a subect heading yielded
almost no references. A boolean search using Internet and culture or
Internet and society produced better results. I searched library card
catalogs of the CARL system (primarily Denver Public Library and
Auraria), EZ CAT (Aurora/Arapahoe online catalog), and FirstSearch
(primarily World Cat and ERIC). Periodical searches were done on InfoTrac
and by using keyword searches in on-line magazines on the Internet. Aside
from the Internet sites, the resources listed were found in the
Metropolitan Denver area due to time constraints and availability.
However, most of the resources should be readily available through
interlibrary loans whatever your location or directly accessible through
the Internet. The Internet sites were invaluable resources since hypertext
links made references cited immediately available for use. I searched
many of the library databases from my home computer. This allowed me
unlimited time to search the catalogs and find call numbers that would
help me browse the shelves when I visited the libraries. I browsed
shelves at the Denver Public Library, Aurora Central and Auraria in order
to find appropriate materials. Browsing the catalog record of individual
titles also helped me find additional subject headings to further my
search. I attended a half day workshop at Denver Public Library on
Children and the Internet, but while interesting, it did not provide me with
any resources on the subject. Since the Internet is constantly changing, it
is necessary for information professionals to stay current with the
Internet culture and technology. I focused my searches within the last 5
years , and the majority of the resources included in the bibliography are
very current.
Annotation Information
The annotations are divided into topic areas, and then listed
alphabetically by author or by title if there was no author for the citation.
Titles that are "must reads" will be bulleted. I have tried to find reviews
for all the book annotations, but if this was not possible it is clearly
stated in the annotation. Many of the Internet sites were recommended or
linked by hypertext from a similar or related site. The annotation
includes summary information about the work and tells why it has been
included in the bibliography as a resource for the information
professional. Each book annotation includes information about the author,
and briefly lists their credentials. The annotation will indicate the
format of the work (book, periodical, Internet site, etc.). Bibliographic
information or a URL for Internet sites is included. Indexing is very
important to the usefulness of material for the reader, so I make special
note if the book has an index. In the case of Internet sites, I note if
hypertext is utilized effectively or if the website has its own index page
to assist the user in locating information. I also note the glossary,
appendix or notes field at the end of the book if they are especially useful.
Websites on the Internet often include glossaries and or primers about the
subject they are discussing, and that is noted if it merits special
consideration. The annotations included in this bibliography will provide
the reader with a good overview of what makes up the Internet culture and
what problems must be resolved in order to insure youth access to the
Internet while protecting this on-line world from censorship.
Issues Related to Youth Access of the Internet
Internet Culture
Goodman, Danny. Living at Light Speed. New York: Random House, 1994.
This book provides one perspective on what the Internet is and what it
may become. Danny Goodman is an award winning technology writer, the
winner of Best Book awards from the Computer Press Association.
Goodman examines the Information Superhighway and reflects on what
lies ahead. He evaluates the true nature of the Information Superhighway
separating hype from fact. Chapter 6, "The Dark Side," reveals potential
hazards in the on-line world, including discussion of safety on the Net and
censorship. The author advocates a plan of action that will enable
consumers to have more control over what the Information Superhighway
offers. The book is written for the layman and provides a good overview
of the Internet. Glossary and index are included in the book. Book reviews
in Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly and New Yorker recommended the
book as a valuable guide and primer for those who are not technologically
inclined. It is a good choice as an introduction to the on-line world and
helps the reader sift through all the publicity about the information
superhighway.
Moore, Dinty W. The Emperor's Virtual Clothes: The Naked Truth about
Internet Culture.Chapel Hill: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 1995
This book was included because it gives an alternate, and somewhat
offbeat perspective of the Internet culture through explicit examples. The
reader tours the on-line world in the shoes of the author, and experiences
many aspects of the Information Superhighway that one might not explore
for themselves. The book is intended for the general reader. Also the
author presents an opposing viewpoint of the impact of the Internet. He
believes the Information Superhighway is here to stay, but will not
become an all encompassing feature in our lives. The author explains that
the Internet will ultimately be assimilated into society as were the
telephone and the television without drastically changing basic human
values. Moore feels that the Internet is a useful machine, but will not
change human beings fundamentally. After exploring the virtual world of
the Internet, he comes to the conclusion that the real world surpasses the
on-line experience. Dinty W. Moore (swears its his real name) has worked
as a film maker and a reporter for UPI. At present, he is an assistant
professor at Penn State University's Altoona campus where he teaches
writing. The book has a table of contents, but no index. There is a glossary
at the end. The book received mixed reviews. One review took a negative
stance, and said that the book was a "thin polemic" that took a skeptical
look at the Internet (Publisher's Weekly, July 15, 1995, p.212). Another
review recommended the book as a well written and humorous primer
(Library Journal, August, 1995, p. 112). In any case, this book is
recommended as an interesting side trip into the Internet culture.
Negroponte, Nicholas. Being Digital. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1995
Negroponte discusses the spread of computing and digital communications,
and his belief that the growth in these areas will dramatically impact
society. Nicholas Negroponte is the founder and director for MIT's Media
Laboratory that studies and researches future forms of human
communication. Since he is considered an expert in the field of computer
mediated communication, I've included his book to provide insight into
what direction the future is heading through new technology. The author
believes that the greatest social impact of on-line computer networks
will be generational (6). Children more readily accept and adapt to the use
of computers in their everyday life, and don't see it as novel or
threatening. Negroponte says the Internet provides an excellent medium
for children to "be heard and not seen" (202) while they learn about the
world and find knowledge and meaning in a global environment. The book
is thought provoking and written for the general reader. It is indexed.
Book reviews in Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Fortune all
recommend this book. It is described as an upbeat primer on the
information revolution (Publisher's Weekly, Jan. 16, 1995, p. 449).
Rheingold, Howard. The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the
Electronic Frontier. Reading: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1993.
An informative book on the Internet culture written from the perspective
of a long time user. The author participates in an on-line community
known as the WELL (Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link) and has personal insights
into the virtual world of the Internet. He discusses the development of
the Internet culture from its beginnings to the present. Rheingold is a
multimedia columnist for Publish magazine and has also written for The
New York Times, Psychology Today, and Omni to name a few. He is
regularly cited by authors of works relating to computer mediated
communication. This book was chosen as a good source for understanding
the Internet culture, and its ramifications with regard to society. The
author discusses the value of community building and free expression on
the Internet. He also explores the ways in which society may be changed
through Internet usage. Rheingold believes one of the most positive
aspects of the Internet is the opportunity it provides for people to form
relationships in a global community. Bibliography and index are included
in book. This book received very favorable reviews from Business Week
(Dec. 20, 1993, p. 15) and Fortune (Feb. 7, 1994, p. 157). It is
recommended for its descriptions of everyday life on the Net.
Legal issues and the Internet
American Library Association. http://www.ala.org (29 April '96).
The homepage for the American Library Association is a good resource
since it provides a link to a page set up by the ALA Office for Information
Technology Policy titled, "Selected Readings on Internet Content
Regulation" (http://www.ala.org/oitp.html). A reading list of current
articles is presented that relates to intellectual freedom. Understanding
these issues is paramount to information professionals concerned with
pending legislation that may influence what information is accessible on
the Internet. The reading list contains references to sources made
available within the last six months. The ALA homepage also has an
archive of documents that includes ALA Intellectual Freedom statements.
The Library Bill of Rights, and the ALA interpretation of access to
electronic information, services and networks are other examples of
available documents. This site is recommended as an excellent on-line
resource that provides current information related to legislation
restricting access to materials on the Internet.
The Battle Over Net Censorship. http://pathfinder.com (29 April '96)
This page is an on-line information source for news on Net politics, and is
regularly updated by Pathfinder, Time Warner's site. Current updates are
provided on the legal battles ensuing over Internet censorship. Access to
background information relating to this issue is also available.
Background information on events leading up the passage of the
Telecommunications Bill on February 8, 1996 can be found. This site also
connects one to those opposing censorship legislation as well as to those
supporting legislation to control free expression on the Internet.
Information pertaining to the cyberporn controversy, such as the Carnegie
Mellon study by Martin Rimm and the infamous Time article on cyberporn,
is linked to this site with hypertext. Several critics of the Time cover
story may be viewed through hypertext links also. This website was
included as an additional information resource that provides an overview
of the conflicts over Internet censorship, and is especially useful since it
is regularly updated.
Branscomb, Anne Wells. Who Owns Information? From Privacy to Public
Access. New York: BasicBooks, New York, 1994.
This book was chosen because the author discusses the legal aspects of
providing access to information. It is related to free speech and
censorship as it pertains to the control of information. The author
explores what information is private and what information should be
public knowledge. Branscomb's view is that society must come to an
agreement on how to control (or not control) access to information. This
is an insightful book on what information is, who owns
it , and who should have access. A good read for information professionals
dealing with issues of accessibility to information. Anne Wells
Branscomb is a well respected communication and computer lawyer. She
is a legal scholar-in-residence at Harvard University's Program on
Information Resources Policy. The book is well researched and provides
an extensive notes field at the back of the book citing sources. An index
to the work is also provided. Anne Branscomb "demonstrates the glaring
inadequacy of current laws to protect information assets and safeguard
individual rights."(Publisher's Weekly, May 9,1994, p.58). Library Journal
(July, 1994, p.111) also highly recommends this book for being well
researched and an engrossing read.
Cavazos, Edward and Gavino Morin. Cyberspace and the Law: Your Rights
and Duties in the On-Line World. Cambridge: The MIT Press, 1994.
A great resource that explains legal aspects related to the Internet. The
authors are both lawyers associated with law firms in Texas, but have
written a book for the lay person with little or no legal training. Chapter
5 and chapter 6 are especially relevant to free and uncensored access to
information. Chapter 5 deals with the First Amendment and discusses
how that relates to on-line activities. The authors specifically discuss
censorship by system operators. Chapter 6 addresses sexually explicit
material. Throughout the book, the authors analyze the issues in the
traditional context (outside of cyberspace), and then apply the law to the
on-line community. Problems are examined and possible solutions
suggested. Notes field and an excellent appendix is included that lists
resources for legal assistance, organizations involved with legal issues in
cyberspace, statutes related to individual rights, etc. Good background
information for the reader on legal issues related to Internet usage. Book
is indexed. Booklist (Nov. 15, 1994, p. 560) recommends this book for its
thorough descriptions on how our laws can affect the new communication
revolution. Even though the authors are lawyers and use legal precedents
in their arguments, this book provides clear and concise explanations for
all readers.
Sussman, Vic. "Policing Cyberspace," U.S. News & World Report, 118
(January 23, 1995), 54-60.
This article discusses computer crime and the need for new laws to
safeguard free speech and determine what kinds of "cyberspeech" should
be made illegal (58). The author says the positive flow of information and
the breakdown of communication hierarchies is a plus in the on-line
world, but on the negative side, a situation is created that can victimize
people with offensive speech or images and invade people's privacy.
Police are asking for laws that give them greater power to control what
happens on computer networks, but the Internet culture resists any
regulating bodies that may infringe on freedom of expression. The article
presents good information on the difficulties involved in controlling
activities on the Internet.
Turner, William Bennett. "What Part of 'No Law' Don't You Understand,"
Wired, 4.03, 1996.
This article provides an explanation of the First Amendment, and its
relation to the Internet by constitutional scholar and attorney, William
Bennett Turner. Turner does not believe we need a new constitutional
amendment for digital communication. He says the First Amendment is
flexible enough to protect our freedoms. The author discusses Supreme
Court decisions that relate to new media, such as the Red Lion decision
that dealt with broadcasting. This decision upheld the FCC's Fairness
Doctrine, which required licensed broadcasters to cover important
societal issues and give contrasting viewpoints. Turner goes on to explain
how the First Amendment in its original form can be applied to digital
communication. This article provides excellent information on the First
Amendment as well as the author's view that there is no need to propose
a new amendment in order to respond to issues of digital communication.
The article is recommended for its discussion of the First Amendment,
and the presentation of the perspective that advocates the adequacy of the
amendment in relation to regulating new media.
Freedom of Expression
Arbuss, Steve. "Free Expression, Copyright, and Democracy."
http://www.paranoia.com/~ebola
This on-line article outlines remarks presented by Steve Arbuss for The
Ethics of the Internet Conference at U.C. Berkeley on November 11, 1995.
The author believes the Internet has the potential to enhance society's
freedom to consume information, and provides several benefits, such as
enabling dialogue, inspiring creative solutions to problems and organizing
accumulations of knowledge and ideas. Arbuss discusses Internet
problems with copyright law and indecency legislation. Of particular
interest to the information professional are the links to sites related to
freedom of expression. The links to similar sites include information on
the First Amendment, the Electronic Freedom Foundation, the
Communication Decency Act, and so forth. Arbuss presents a good case for
the positive aspects of the Internet, and its usefulness to society.
Burstein, Daniel and David Kline. Road Warriors: Dreams and Nightmares
Along the Information Superhighway. New York: A Dutton Book, 1995.
Although this book is directed toward business and the global economy,
the authors analyze social change and the information highway. They
present their ideas about what the future holds in relation to the digital
revolution. Chapter 4, "The Internet Reconsidered," is especially relevant
to information professionals involved in the issues of ethics, pornography
and freedom of expression.
The chapter discusses control of access to information by parents and
commercial providers, and the lack of a rule-making body regulating
context on the Internet. The authors stress that this is a defining
characteristic of the Internet--that there are no controls and many
Internet users want it to remain an unrestricted environment. Notes
providing bibliographic references and an index are included at the back of
the book. Also Appendix B presents an interesting interview with several
prominent participants involved with new technologies and the impact on
society. Alvin Toffler and Paul Saffo are two of the participants.
Discussion revolves around how technology will change our world in the
21st Century. Daniel Burstein and David Kline are well known writers.
Daniel Burstein acts as advisor in investment banking and has written
several books on the global economy. David Kline writes for Wired
magazine and the on-line magazine Hot Wired. PC Magazine (Nov. 21, 1995,
p. 69) praises this book for being intelligently written and an enjoyable
read. Fortune (Nov. 13, 1995, p. 237) also recommends this title, but says
there are some faults. The book reads more like a collection of articles
than a cohesive novel, and the authors bounce from subject to subject.
This review says that some of their conclusions read like clichÈs, but as
a whole the book is "an intelligent primer on the technological issues of
our day." (237)
Censorship. http://www.tcom.ohiou.edu/OU-Language/project-
censorship.html (29 April '96).
This web site was chosen because it is an important resource for
information on censorship and electronic communication. The site
provides hypertext links to voices for censorship and voices against
censorship. Information about opposing viewpoints is very useful to the
information professional who needs to be aware of both sides of the
censorship issue. Hypertext links you the Electronic Freedom Foundation
homepage to view material against censorship. Access to voices for
censorship include a hypertext link to an on-line article by Irving Kristol,
"Pornography, Obscenity and the Case for Censorship," and a link to the
Family Research Council, described as an activist conservative Christian
organization. There is also a hypertext link for child safety on the
Internet which connects one to a brochure authored by Lawrence J. Magid.
The brochure is titled, "Child Safety on the Information Superhighway,"
and was prepared for the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children. This site provides a link to Yahoo, which lists a directory of
resources related to censorship and the Internet. Links related to the
debate over Time's magazine article, "On a Screen Near You: Cyberporn,"
can be found on this site. Information on censorship in education and
individual case studies are available. There is also a collection of search
tools that relate to Internet issues on censorship, freedom of speech, the
First Amendment, and academic freedom. This site is an excellent
reference tool.
Champelli, L. The Internet Advocate.
http://www.silver.ucs.indiana.edu/~lchampel/netadv.htm (29 April '96).
The Internet Advocate is an excellent resource guide designed primarily
for librarians and educators. This web site offers ideas on ways to
respond to inaccurate perceptions of porn on the net and pursue positive
examples of youth Internet use. Hypertext links the information
professional to additional Internet sites with related materials. A link to
the Public Service Librarian's Professional Guide to Internet Resources
gives instructions for subscribing to popular library listserves, such as
KIDLIT, PUBYAC, LM-NET, etc. The link to the Eric Clearinghouse provides
access to educational resources on the Net. The Internet Advocate
provides information on acceptable use policy and on software products
designed to block Internet sites that the user deems inappropriate. In
addition, hypertext links are available to EFF (Electronic Freedom
Foundation), ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and the ALA (American
Library Association). These are all organizations committed to electronic
freedom of information. This web site is recommended for its content and
numerous links to similar sites that provide information about freedom of
expression on the Internet.
Computer-Mediated Communication Magazine. January, 1996.
http://www.december.com/cmc/mag/index.html
The January 1996 issue was a special issue on the philosophical
perspectives of computer-mediated communication. This issue was
devoted to the accessibility of indecent material on the Internet and the
philosophical issues underlying debates about free speech, pornography
and censorship. The issue has many hypertext links that connect the
reader to related ideas and issues. An article by Wes Cooper, "Wizards,
Toads, and Ethics," delves into the moral implications involved in
determining what is tolerated or not tolerated in cyberspace. Cooper
believes a moral philosophy needs to be developed as users of the Net
project and identify with what they create on the Internet (such as
characters created for MUD's). Another on-line article, "Sexually Explicit
Materials and the Internet," by Douglas Birsch discusses the regulation of
obscenity. The author has two categorizes for sexually explicit materials
and gives his definition for obscene and pornographic. He believes
censorship of sexually explicit materials revolves around the right of
liberty and advocates local or community control of such materials. The
January 1996 issue presents valuable information on the philosophical
issues related to freedom of expression. This is a useful resource for the
information professional that aids in understanding the problems inherent
to the creation of regulations concerning Internet usage. This on-line
magazine is published and edited by John December. He is well known on
the Net for specializing in the study of Internet-based Computer Mediated
Communication. From his homepage
(http://www.rpi.edu/~decemj/index.html), one can access a list of
Internet information resources about the Internet and computer-mediated
communication as well as a summary of Internet tools for network
information retrieval..
Electronic Freedom Foundation. http://www.eff.org (5 May '96).
The homepage for this website is a gathering place for anti-censorship
activities. It is a well designed site that offers links to resources on
issues related to freedom of expression. The EFF Archives is an electronic
civil liberties library that has a searchable index. Some of the major
archive topics include: computers & academic freedom, censorship & free
expression, net information & online community, e-journals and EFF
Staff/Board writings. The writings of the staff and board of EFF is an
excellent resource for those interested in the rights and responsibilities
of users of electronic networks. Mike Godwin is Staff Counsel for the
Electronic Freedom Foundation, and also writes extensively on issues
related to the Internet. He is a columnist for Internet World, and many of
his writings can be accessed from this website. In the article, "Children,
Child Abuse, and Cyberporn: A Primer for Clear Thinkers," Mike Godwin
offers a legal explanation of what kind of pornography is considered
illegal under the law, and what the indecency standard means with regard
to on-line communication. Godwin also downplays the threat of child
molestation on the Internet as being much less of a threat in the on-line
world than in everyday real life situations. The information professional
should be familiar with the Electronic Freedom Foundation as a major
voice against censorship. Many related sites link to this website, and its
staff and board members are often referred to or cited in Internet
discussions.
Elmer-DeWitt, Philip. "On a Screen Near You: Cyberporn," Time (July 3,
1995), 38-45.
This article merits required reading status since it has provoked a great
debate on the Internet. In general, public opinion seems to agree that the
information in this article is a good example of mis-information or dis-
information. Philip Elmer-Dewitt based his conclusions of widespread
erotica on-line from a research study from Carnegie Mellon by Martin
Rimm. The article says that 83.5% of all the images on Usenet are
pornographic. This alarming figure has been widely criticized as a
distortion. The Time article led the reader to believe pornographic images
made up over 80% of the entire Internet. It failed to explain the
difference between Usenet groups and the Internet as a whole. In any
case, this article is necessary reading for information professionals who
need to understand what sparked the Cyberporn debate. See also The
Internet Advocate for critiques of this article.
Hoffman, Donna L. and Thomas P. Novak. Project 2000 Research Program on
Marketing in Computer-Mediated Environments. The Cyberporn Debate.
http://www2000.ogsm.vanderbilt.edu/cyberporn.debate.cgi
This excellent website was recommended on the American Library
Association site, specifically on a page prepared by the Office of
Information Technology Policy. The resources presented on this site
provide extensive information on the cyberporn debate that includes Marty
Rimm's Georgetown Law Journal paper, "Marketing Pornography on the
Information Superhighway," and Elmer-Dewitt's Time cover story on
cyberporn. In addition, there are numerous critiques of these two articles
as well as media coverage of this controversy. A link to The Carnegie
Mellon Censorship Page is available and provides CMU administration's
response to the Rimm situation. This page also includes CMU policy
statements on the ethical conduct of research. Hoffman and Novak's
website presents a section about proposed government regulation on
controlling access to the Internet. There are other Net links to the
Cyberporn debate as well as links to other organizations that are involved
in issues related to freedom of expression on electronic networks. This
website is not to be missed for it is a very thorough resource on the
cyberporn debate. The references cited are comprehensive and have been
well researched.
Student Access to Undesirable Materials.
http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Edu/ILM/CAUM/CAUM.html (5 May '96).
This site supplies another resource page that links the user to materials
that provide information on student access to controversial material. It
addresses the censorship debate, acceptable use policies in schools and
software filters that have been developed. The Education and Outreach
group at NCSA (National Center for Supercomputing Applications) created
this resource page to help parents, educators, and administrators
understand issues relating to student access of undesirable materials.
This website was included for the information professional because of
two useful links. A link to Censorship, Freedom of Speech, Child Safety on
the Internet lists resources that express various viewpoints about what
needs to be done with objectionable material on the Internet
(http://www.voicenet.com/~cranmer/censorship.html). Secondly, a link to
Child Safety on the Information Superhighway links one to an on-line
pamphlet produced by the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children (http:www.missingkids.org). The brochure was written by
Lawrence J. Magid who is a syndicated columnist for the Los Angeles
Times and has his own home page (http://www.larrrysworld.com) which
deals issues relating to children and Internet usage. The pamphlet has a
good discussion of issues and guidelines for allowing children access to
the Internet. Magid discusses the benefits and risks of the Internet,
offers guidelines for parents to help reduce risks when children use the
Internet, and lists rules for online safety that will help children as they
use online services. This website offers information professionals an
additional reference source that explores access issues. The links on this
resource page make connecting to this material easily accessible. The
site may be especially useful for referral to parents and educators
interested in information about commercial software filters.
Wired. http://www.hotwired.com/wired (21 April '96).
The archives of this on-line magazine are a good resource for material
related to freedom of expression. The archive is searchable, and articles
are easily viewed on-line. HotWired is definitely against censorship of
the Internet, and the archive provides a great deal of information
supporting this viewpoint. "The Rogues Gallery", for example, reveals
which legislators promoted the Communication Decency Act. The e-zine
also gives the reader updated releases about censorship issues. A
transmission from the Communication Decency Act Information Network
on March 14, 1996 could be viewed the day of issue. This recent
transmission was from a news bulletin about Representative Anna Eshoo's
introduction of the Online Parental Control Act of 1996. The purpose of
this legislation is to eliminate the "indecency" standard from the
Communication Decency Act and promote the development of technologies
to utilize parental control of on-line material rather than governmental
controls. For the information professional, this e-zine acts as an
additional source of current information about online issues and freedom
of expression.