Kaitlyn+Young

**Internet Censorship: Immoral and Unwarranted** **Question: Should the government censor the Internet?** **By: Kaitlyn Young**  ** Summary: ** The idea of government censoring certain websites on the Internet is a direct violation of our First Amendment right as US citizens. I am interested in this topic because Internet censorship is a problem in the USA. The main problem is to what extent should our government be able to censor the Internet or even if they should be able to at all.

**Picture and Cartoons: ** Moore, Nicole C. "Futurity: Discover the Future." Futurity.org â Scheme May Thwart Internet Censorship. Futurity, 12 Aug. 2011. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/scheme-may-thwart-internet-censorship/.

""A Nation Of Sheep Soon Begets A Government Of Wolves" -E.R. Murrow." The Oldspeak Journal. Word Press, 30 Nov. 2011. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. http://theoldspeakjournal.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/internet-censorship-bills-up-for-vote-dec-5th-stop-online-piracy-act-protect-ip-garner-enthusiastic-bi-partisan-support-in-congress/.

 "About Net Neutrality." Blogger.com. Blogger, 16 Mar. 2011. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. http://mastashake223.blogspot.com/.

** Pros and Cons: **


 * Pros of Internet Censorship || Cons of Internet Censorship ||
 * Internet censorship will help stop the spread of criminal activities such as: child pornography, fraud, etc. || Keeping legitimate information from the public will only lead to ignorance in society ||
 * This will help put a stop to the spread of material that aids terrorist activities || Censoring the Internet might make criminals harder to catch ||
 * Helpful in hiding our country’s military secrets and preserve other secrets of our country || It will be hard to effectively enforce upon all citizens ||
 * Might help eliminate the sale of pirated movies || Intrudes on the privacy of a person ||
 * Might help stop copyright infringement || Takes away citizens right to freedom of speech ||

"Censorship Bill: Pros and Cons." HubPages.com. HubPages Inc., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2012. http://samantha-01.hubpages.com/hub/Censoring-the-internet-Pros-and-Cons.

"What Are the Pros and Cons of Internet Regulation?" Pros and Cons of. Http:catalysttheme.com/, 25 Oct. 2011. Web. 02 Dec. 2012. .

**Court Cases: **

<span style="color: #3fca76; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> It mainly describes the COPA act and how it is unconstitutional. There are other ways to protect minors from explicit material on the Internet and the COPA act is too vague. The COPA act is invalid simply because it restricts our First Amendment right of freedom of speech. <span style="color: #3fca76; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> "ACLU v. Mukasey -- Challenge to Internet Censorship." ACLU v. Mukasey -- Challenge to Internet Censorship. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.
 * <span style="color: #3fca76; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ACLU v. Mukasey **

<span style="color: #3fca76; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> This case was brought to the Supreme Court because of the debate of how far government is able to censor the Internet. The Internet allows anyone to access virtually any type of material. It would not be possible to block minors from this material because not all of it is indecent. The government believes the Act is constitutional because it leaves ample other ways of communication other than the Internet and does not directly violate freedom of speech. <span style="color: #3fca76; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> "Reno v. ACLU." Law.cornell.edu. Cornell University Law School, 19 Mar. 1997. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.
 * <span style="color: #3fca76; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Reno v. ACLU **

<span style="color: #3fca76; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> This case presents the issue of free speech and if others should be able to prevent people to have free speech. Also this case states whether school officials have the authority to prevent free speech. Describes a dispute between two high school students and their speech on the Internet. States that in certain situations the school has the right to restrict certain material posted by students. <span style="color: #3fca76; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> "DONINGER v. NIEHOFF." Findlaw.com//. Thomson Reuters, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.
 * <span style="color: #3fca76; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Doninger v. Niehoff **

**<span style="color: #8d358c; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What I Think: ** Internet censorship has become a growing problem in America. The issue of Internet censorship is growing more rapidly now than ever simply because technology has become a big part of many Americans lives. <span style="color: #8d358c; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This issue can affect future generations in the sense that they can take more drastic steps toward stopping Internet censorship. I think limiting speech on the Internet will cause more trouble than have any beneficial outcomes. One of the many downsides of Internet censorship is it forces one system of morality on everyone. <span style="color: #8d358c; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The argument of whether or not websites with explicit material on it should be taken down is also an issue of morality. I think if people did not abuse the Internet as much as they do there would not have to be so many provisions to obliterate certain sites. Censoring every part of the Internet is unreasonable and nearly impossible because there are too many sites to monitor. <span style="color: #8d358c; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Internet censorship is not necessary if everyone will cooperate to keep this issue present in schools and will have decency. I truly believe the Internet is corrupting our free thought because there are so many opinions and restrictions pertaining to it. In certain circumstances where our country is being threatening censorship is most definitely an appropriate measure to take. My stance on Internet censorship is very close to the ideas of the ACLU because I believe in protecting the First Amendment to the fullest. Overall, I completely agree that government shouldn’t be able to tell us what we can and cannot look at, it resembles dictatorship.

<span style="color: #df442a; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**Works Cited:**

<span style="color: #df442a; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"ACLU v. Mukasey -- Challenge to Internet Censorship." ACLU v. Mukasey -- Challenge to Internet Censorship. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.

<span style="color: #df442a; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL v. AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION Et Al." FindLaw | Cases and Codes. Thomson Reuters, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

<span style="color: #df442a; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ASHCROFT v. AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION. The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. 11 December 2012.

<span style="color: #df442a; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ballaro, Beverly, and Tracey M. DiLascio. “Internet Censorship: An Overview.” Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.

<span style="color: #df442a; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Censorship Demonstrators in Russia.” Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

<span style="color: #df442a; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Electronic Frontier Foundation. "Internet Filters Should Not Be Installed in Public Schools and Libraries." Should There Be Limits to Free Speech? Ed. Laura K. Egendorf. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. At Issue. Rpt. from "statement on H.R. 4577 Mandatory Censorware Provisions." 2000. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.

<span style="color: #df442a; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Reno v. ACLU." Law.cornell.edu. Cornell University Law School, 19 Mar. 1997. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.

<span style="color: #df442a; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union, 521 U.S. 844 (1997)." Firstamendmentschools.org. First Amendment Schools, 11 Dec. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

<span style="color: #df442a; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS ACLU v. Mukasey." Ca3.uscourts.gov. Third Judicial Court, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

<span style="color: #df442a; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Witherbee, Amy, and Ames C. Cushman. “Counterpoint: Sometimes Censorship Is Necessary.” Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.