WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court blocked a law meant to shield Web-surfing children from dirty pictures and online come-ons, ruling Tuesday that the law also would cramp the free speech rights of adults to see and buy what they want on the Internet (news - web sites).
Technology (news - web sites) such as filtering software may better protect children from unsavory material than such laws, the court said in a 5-4 ruling.
"Filters are less restrictive" and thus pose less risk of muzzling free speech, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority. "They impose selective restrictions on speech at the receiving end, not universal restrictions at the source."
Numerous software companies market products that parents can install on a home computer to sift out objectionable material. Filtering software tries to block Web sites based on preferences set by the user
This was a good thing. I don't want anyone telling what I can or can not see. If it's illegal, no problem. If it's not, leave it alone...
Technology (news - web sites) such as filtering software may better protect children from unsavory material than such laws, the court said in a 5-4 ruling.
"Filters are less restrictive" and thus pose less risk of muzzling free speech, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority. "They impose selective restrictions on speech at the receiving end, not universal restrictions at the source."
Numerous software companies market products that parents can install on a home computer to sift out objectionable material. Filtering software tries to block Web sites based on preferences set by the user
This was a good thing. I don't want anyone telling what I can or can not see. If it's illegal, no problem. If it's not, leave it alone...