San Diego – County Supervisor Bill Horn brought before the County Board of Supervisors, a proposal to install filtering software on County Library computers being used by children surfing the web. By a unanimous vote, the 5 supervisors agreed to look at various filtering software products and determine the economic feasibility and possible liabilities of enhancing the current Library policy.
“We want to compliment the current policy implemented 2 ½ years ago,” stated Supervisor Horn. “Since then new technologies to filter porn and hate have been developed and over half a million new porn sites have gone online.”
The current Internet policy for County Libraries was instituted back in 1997. Library staff or volunteers monitor Internet stations and children who want to go online must first obtain written parental consent. Marilyn Crouch the County’s Library Director said that under the current policy, some problems have occurred. One situation involved a child viewing pornographic material while online at a County Library.
“You would not send that one child to the park with a pedophile," continued Horn. "Why would you send any children to the Library with a pornographer?"
Many new computers are being added this year to County Libraries and more will be connected to the Internet. According to Supervisor Bill Horn, filtering software will enhance the policy, freeing up staff to perform other duties. "We are not trying to define pornography," concluded Horn. "We are trying to protect innocent children."
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