Internet - Protecting Children from Unsuitable Material and Sexual Predators: Overview and Pending Legislation

Publication Date: January 2001

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Media, telecommunications, and information

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Abstract:

Protecting children from unsuitable material and sexual predators on the Internet has been a major concern for Congress and the Clinton Administration. Congress passed three laws concerning protecting children from certain content on the Web. The major provisions of the first, the Communications Decency Act (P.L. 104-104), were overturned by the Supreme Court. The Child Online Protection Act (P.L. 105-277) is currently under review in the courts. The Children's Internet Protection Act (P.L. 106554), which would require most schools and libraries to use filtering technologies to block certain Web sites, is expected to be challenged as well. Since the arena for debate on this issue is expected to shift from Congress to the courts, this report will not be updated. See CRS Report 98-670 for information on the status of court action.