Filter-Free Library
Kern County backed away from plans to use Internet filtering software on computers in its libraries after facing the threat of a suit from the American Civil Liberties Union.
ACLU officials said last week that they received a faxed letter from Kern County Counsel Bernard Barmann that the county planned to offer a choice of unfiltered or filtered Internet access to both adult and minor library patrons.
No parental consent will be required for minors to use unfiltered computers, according to the letter. Previously, Kern County had signaled its intent to use filters on all its computers.
Peter Eliasberg, an attorney with the ACLU of Southern California, said Kern County “now joins libraries in Santa Clara County . . . among others in deciding to be providers of information, not censors.”
Internet filtering software, such as CyberPatrol and NetNanny, block access to sites considered to have objectionable material, such as pornography. But they are often criticized for being too blunt an instrument, accidentally blocking legitimate sites with information about such topics as breast cancer and AIDS.
Kern County was the latest in a number of public library systems to confront the contentious issue. Loudon County, Va., is facing a suit from a local civic group that opposes the county’s decision to require filters on all library computers.
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