Pornography

Parents Should Not Use Internet Filtering Software

Langdon Winner

Langdon Winner is director of graduate studies in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In the following viewpoint, he argues that parents should resist installing filtering software that claims to protect their children from pornography on the Internet. He contends that such software often blocks legitimate, non-pornographic websites belonging to groups whose agenda the manufacturer disagrees with. Winner asserts that filtering software often pushes repressive social agendas and limits free speech.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What would be the purpose of a C-chip, according to Winner?
2. According to the author, what non-pornographic websites does CyberPatrol block?
3. Why does filtering software remind Winner of the totalitarian states early in the nineteenth century"

Laws, regulations, police, education, propaganda—these are among the means societies have traditionally employed to promote and defend the values they deem crucial. Yet these efforts.....

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