Future Legislation

• A new bill was introduced this past January which further extends the parameters of CIPA. In an attempt to negate actions of online predators, the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act would require all school libraries which receive federal funding to filter interactive social websites (such as MySpace) and chat rooms.
• A ruling striking down COPA occured on March 22, 2007. A victory for First Amendment enthusiasts, this decision permanently puts the law to rest. COPA had been in a stalemate position since 1998 and had never been enforced.
• While many states require internet use policies, two states, Utah and Virginia, have now adopted laws that require all school and public library computers to have filters or forfeit funding at the state level. The bill, like CIPA, will also allow for the disconnecting of filters if so requested by an adult. It is my prediction that many states will follow suit and develop their own versions of CIPA.
• The Internet Safety Act of 2007 was introduced in February of this year. The bill further addresses the issue of protecting children from online predators.