ERIC Number: ED502269
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Jun-6
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
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Harmonizing the Interests of Free Speech, Obscenity and Child Pornography on Cyberspace: The New Roles of Parents, Technology and Legislation for Internet Safety
Olagunju, Amos O.
Online Submission, Paper presented at the Oxford Round Table on "The Regulation of Cyberspace: Balancing the Interests" (Oxford, England, Mar 28, 2008)
Incorrect access to Web site addresses and spam e-mails are continuing to make pornography rampant on the Internet at schools, homes and libraries. Collectively, parents, teachers and members of communities must become more aware of the risks and consequences of open access to the Internet, and the distinction between censorship and Internet access filtering. Parental involvement is crucial for raising children with healthy Internet access habits to social and educational materials. Although generations have coped with different times and trials, technology is ushering in new trials. Parents and communities cannot ignore the present and future technology ingrained into the lives of children. This paper contends that, parents armed with legislation and technological security devices for access to the Internet, ought to strengthen the character of online Internet safety. The discussion is focused on the roles parents, communities, technology and laws should play in protecting children from cyberspace obscene and pornographic threats. It is argued that the roles of education and technology should outweigh the legislative interventions of governments. A critique of significant litigations and laws on obscene and pornography is presented. The paper offers a variety of security tools and techniques for protecting children from Internet access to obscene and pornographic materials.
Descriptors: Safety, Parent Participation, Parent Role, Parent School Relationship, Pornography, Internet, Freedom of Speech, Civil Rights, Web Sites, Computer Mediated Communication, Electronic Mail, Access to Information, Censorship, Information Technology, Computer Security, Legislation, Computer Uses in Education, Court Litigation
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Reports - Evaluative; Speeches/Meeting Papers
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Language: English
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