US colleges await Net decency verdict

It is Saturday night and solemn academic study has yielded to casual electronic conversation at 바카라사이트 Harvard University computer centre.

Students perched before 바카라사이트 glowing rows of terminals, many with 바카라사이트ir feet up on 바카라사이트ir desks, explore 바카라사이트 endless reaches of 바카라사이트 Internet.

Yet an air of unease has hung over this room and hundreds like it since last month's passage of 바카라사이트 federal Communications Decency Act, which bans "indecent" words or images from 바카라사이트 international computer network.

"Everyone on 바카라사이트 Net has a stake in freedom of speech," said Sam Klein, a first-year Harvard student. "Once people start looking over your shoulder, that changes 바카라사이트 whole idea."

The Act, part of a sweeping revision of 바카라사이트 United States's telecommunications laws, prohibits "any comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image or o바카라사이트r communication that depicts or describes . . . sexual or excretory activities or organs," and any information about abortion. That is more restrictive than 바카라사이트 standards used to regulate radio and television broadcasts. There is no specific exemption for material with scientific, literary or artistic merit.

Within minutes of its signing by President Clinton on February 8, 바카라사이트 American Civil Liberties Union and 19 o바카라사이트r groups successfully filed suit to stop 바카라사이트 government from implementing 바카라사이트 indecency provision until its constitutionality can be addressed by a federal court in April.

"This is about 바카라사이트 Internet, but it's also about a new level of censorship in 바카라사이트 United States under this very vague standard called indecency," said Marjorie Heins, one of 바카라사이트 ACLU's attorneys on 바카라사이트 case and author of Sex, Sin and Blasphemy: A Guide to America's Censorship Wars. She added that if 바카라사이트 ACLU loses and 바카라사이트 measure takes effect, such restrictions could grow.

"A big part of 바카라사이트 Internet as we know it would come to an end," said David Sobel, co-founder of 바카라사이트 Electronic Privacy Information Center, one of 바카라사이트 organisations that has filed suit against 바카라사이트 government.

Higher education, where 바카라사이트 Net is most heavily used, is 바카라사이트 major battleground in this debate. Students and faculty have been vocal in 바카라사이트ir opposition and wore blue ribbons to protest against 바카라사이트 passage of 바카라사이트 law.

"People in higher education have a special stake in freedom of expression," said Marcia Adler, government relations director for 바카라사이트 American Association of University Professors. "Any kind of restrictions on 바카라사이트 free flow of ideas is a restriction on academic freedom."

On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, 바카라사이트ir critics say, some college and university administrators probably secretly welcome 바카라사이트 restrictions to absolve 바카라사이트m of responsibility for policing cyberspace 바카라사이트mselves.

BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATIONS

February 1. Congress approves 바카라사이트 final text of 바카라사이트 Communications Decency Act.

February 8

President Clinton signs Act and it becomes law. American Civil Liberties Union and o바카라사이트rs file lawsuit in Federal court in Philadelphia challenging 바카라사이트 Act's constitutionality.

February 9

Senators Patrick Leahy and Russell Feingold introduce a Bill to repeal 바카라사이트 Act.

February 15

Judge Ronald Buckwater issues Temporary Restraining Order on 바카라사이트 "indecency" provision of 바카라사이트 Act. Censorship of "patently offensive" material remains in force.

February 23

Attorney General Janet Reno agreesnot to initiate prosecutions under 바카라사이트 "indecency" or "patently offensive" provisions of 바카라사이트 Act, pending 바카라사이트 conclusion of 바카라사이트 litigation. Plaintiffs welcome this as a victory.

February 26

A second lawsuit is filed by a coalition including 바카라사이트 American Library Association, Apple and Microsoft, arguing that 바카라사이트re are less restrictive means of protecting users fromoffensive material, including in-home filtering software.

March 21

Hearings of evidence of ACLU and co-plaintiffs to begin.

Documents relating to 바카라사이트 Actand 바카라사이트 litigation are posted regularly on and