No Space for MySpace?

conq writes "BusinessWeek looks at the flaws in the bill proposed by the House of Representatives that would block access to social networks and Internet chat rooms in most federally funded schools and libraries. One big problem with their bill is it is much too vague, it 'could rule out content from any number of Internet companies, including Yahoo! and Google.' What's more, DOPA would prohibit sites that enable users to create their own content and share it. That covers a wide swath of the online world, known colloquially as Web 2.0, where users actively create everything from blogs to videos to news-page collections." This is analysis of a bill we covered yesterday.

1st Ammendment?

[renehollan]

"What's more, DOPA would prohibit sites that enable users to create their own content and share it".

There's something "Freedom of Speechish" about that that doesn't sound quite right. What's the argument going to be? "No, we aren't preventing speech about topic X -- we're preventing all speech". Riiiiight.

Re:1st Ammendment?

[EvilMagnus]

Sounds like it'd ban email, too.

After all, what is email but user-created content that is then shared with others?

Why is this that big a deal.

[Irish_Samurai]

OK, I can see why a public library might need a little more room to wiggle, I will definitely concede that point - but public schools and those oh so great government jobs? They don't need access to MySpace.

I also have a hard time believing that it isn't vague for specific reasons. Police might need to be able to access these sites for research reasons, as would some Gov't employees tasked with research. You don't want those people restricted in their web access.

You do however want to restrict that moron at the DMV from checking out the American Idol blogs.

This seems to be a common way for legislators to write law that can be selectively enforced.

Ahhh, its moot anyway. These people don't understand what it is they're writing laws for anyway - they just know they have to do something or lose votes.

Re:Censorship Questions Arise

[Anonymous Coward]

Does the federal government have the authority to ban books from a public libraby. From what I understand of this bill, it would make the targeted sites (whatever they may be, it's beyond the scope of this comment) inaccessible at a public library. My comment/question is can the federal government ban certain books from the library, because it would seem like whatever rulings have or have not been made on this issue would apply to banning certain websites as well.

Anything to restrict MySpace

[Anonymous Coward]

Hell, at this point I'd take anything to have people browsing MySpace less. There's nothing worse than having your significant other proclaiming that it's just "chatting" when in reality it is "online flirting".

MySpace is a scapegoat!

[i am kman]

Jeez - the furor over MySpace.com is disgusting. It's a GREAT site and both my kids (and me, sometimes) use it all the time - along with instant messaging and online games and many other online things kids are into these days. It's easy to monitor their homepage and linked friends and such and most of the favorite bands have a site. It also gives the kids a place to express themselves.

It's also quite safe if parents take some VERY basic precautions - turn off public viewing of the homepage (so only friends see it) and don't post very personal information (like schools or real names). And, of course, teach your kid not to be a moron.

I'm sick of congress trying to pass legislation to overcome terrible parenting. Parents need to teach their kids better so they won't talk to 30+ year olds or arrange to meet folks they only met online. It's common sense and the parents responsibility.

With VERY basic precautions and common sense, 99.9% of kids are perfectly safe and, when they're not, there are generally alot more serious problems at home than whether or not a kid has a myspace account.

Better idea.

[Anonymous Coward]

Instead of wasting time and tax payer money on more red tape. Why not focus on increasing law enforcement funding for investigating child predators? Why not increase funding for programs to educate children about the Internet? Why not focus on whether treatment programs for child predators should be better funded/examined?

Is this really that hard of a rational leap in thinking for people to make? No wonder they have a reputation of being extremely inefficient.

and this wacko is why this may come to be

[RobertLTux]

How would you like to see Your Childs "mySpace" room defaced by this person?

me if i ran a site (and had the jingle to run as a private club) this guy (or any friends of his) would find their account VAPOR.

as it happens i know of one company (with stock) that has blocked myspace from all corporate owned locations and if you somehow get past the block you can be FIRED ON THE SPOT (ie "give me your name tag")