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(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick

Tue, Jun 24th 2003 7:07pm





Library Group To Target Secrecy Of Filter Vendors

from the good-for-them dept

Since the Supreme Court is now making it tougher for libraries to avoid using internet filters on their computers, a library group has decided to turn their attention to the ridiculous secrecy surrounding what those filters actually block. Most filtering companies won't reveal what they're blocking, claiming that it's a trade secret. The problem, of course, is that there's no way to review what's being blocked to make sure it actually deserves to be blocked. So, the American Library Association is asking the filtering companies to open themselves up to some scrutiny, and let people review exactly what they're filtering and what criteria they use to build their filters. Of course, the filtering companies have absolutely no interest in telling anyone this information. What they're really afraid of is that if they reveal that info, people will realize that these filters don't work very well. However, with the ALA recommending that libraries only use filters that have the list revealed, it could take away business from those companies that still want to remain in the dark.

3 Comments | Leave a Comment

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  1.  
    identicon
    Bob Bechtel, Jun 25th, 2003 @ 5:09am

    What are the standards for compliance with CIPA?

    Does the legislation provide any standards for performance of the blocking/filtering software? If not, how about an open-source, zero-price to libraries solution? If there are no standards, it doesn't have to do a very good job -- in fact, it could just arbitrarily filter a single site (perhaps Sen. Hatch's?) thus satisfying the requirements of law while enabling librarians to keep their budgets under control and their tradition of unfettered access alive.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    icon
    Mike (profile), Jun 25th, 2003 @ 8:53am

    Re: What are the standards for compliance with CIP

    Heh. I like that idea. I would think such a solution would certainly get some attention. Go build it! :)

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jun 26th, 2003 @ 12:13am

    No Subject Given

    Why don't the libraries band together and form
    a consortium to write a filter specifically for
    library use? Doing this would probably be a lot
    less expensive than buying commercial filters,
    and then they would know exactly how it works.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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