@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ >From: "Craig A. Johnson" <•••@••.•••> Date: Sun, 10 Dec 1995 Subject: EFF on Censorship Action Excerpt from: EFFector Online 08.20 * Censorship Protests & CDA Update Saturday, 9 December 1995 Subject: Update on Internet Censorship Bills -------------------------------------------- The US House of Representatives members of the join conference committee working on the telecom bill passed, Dec. 5, a gutted version of the White amendment, that would criminalize "indecent" material online. The fight now moves to the Senate side of that committee, which is dominated by sponsors of unconstitutional censorship legislation. Needless to say, they are not expected to uphold the First Amendement. The larger Congress, however, may be another story. As public rallies and online protests gear up, civil liberties organizations including EFF are urging YOU to call your Senators and Representatives, as well as Dole and Gingrich as Congressional leaders, to express your opinions on this vital issue. According to an e-press release from _American_Reporter_, this online-only daily newspaper "threatened on Thursday to deliberately defy the language of [the] U.S. House cyberporn proposal if it becomes law, calling the measure a clear violation of the First Amendment." Other individuals and organizations - including a judge - have similarly promised civil disobedience, with people almost literally lining up to challenge the bill in court should it pass. ACLU, EFF, and the National Writers Union, among others, have indicated interest in mounting legal challenges to any such censorship law. The _Boston_Globe_ reports that at least one legislator, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) is skeptical about the proposed new law. "Markey said there's a good chance Congress won't finish work on the overall telecommunications bill this year. Even if the bill is completed, a constitional challenge to the law is very likely. Besides, the law won't stop people outside the United States from posting pornography on the Internet." (from "Markey Says Parents Key to Cyberporn Fight", Hiawatha Bray, _Boston_Globe_, Dec. 9). Elizabeth Corcoran & Mike Mills report in the _Washington_Post_ that Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA) intends to "narrow the scope" of the legislation, working with Rep. Rick White (R-WA), who's own proposal was gutted in the conference committee. The _Post_ suggests that they will try to push the legislation back towards a "harmful to minors" (obscenity) standard, rather than the vague indecency standard expected to be reported out of the conf. committee early next week. Gingrich's plan would essentially force to be subject to at least some of the same tests as obscenity - material with cultural, literary or scientific value would be exempted. The next (and possibly last, for this issue) meeting of the conferees on the telecom bill has been set for 2pm EST, Tue., Dec. 12. The telecom bill conference report (that is, the final version of the bill) is sheduled for a vote the week of Dec. 11. ------------------------------ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~--~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~ Posted by Richard K. Moore <•••@••.•••> Wexford, Ireland (USA citizen) Editor: The Cyberjournal (@CPSR.ORG) See the CyberLib at: http://www.internet-eireann.ie/cyberlib See Cyber-Rights library: http://www.cpsr.org/cpsr/nii/cyber-rights/ You are encouraged to forward and cross-post messages and online materials for non-commercial use, provided they are copied in their entirety, with all headers, signatures, etc., intact. ~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~--~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~