This isn’t a defense of one of the most dangerous senators on Capitol Hill, just a plea to call it like it is. His term’s up in ’08, by the way.
DOPA, or the Deleting Online Predators Act was introduced into the House in 2006 by Pennsylvania Republican Mike Fizpatrick, who lost his reelection bid. The bill, which sought to block access to social networking sites in federally-funded schools and libraries, died in the Senate.
When Stevens tacked on an amendment to the Telecommunications Act of 1934, with which I’m sure he’s familiar ever since those lively debates back in junior high (he’s old), the Stevens-leery public immediately called it a DOPA rebirth. Title II is even called “Deleting Online Predators.”
This leads to headlines saying Stevens wants to ban Wikipedia from schools and libraries, and other apparent exaggerations. Unless there’s something I’m missing, the language of the bill doesn’t call for any outright bans. It calls for adult guidance. The definition of social networking sites, as defined in the bill, is vague enough to include, possibly, Wikipedia, but even then, there are concessions made as to its use.
The bill requires that libraries protect “against access by minors without parental authorization to a commercial social networking website or chat room, and informs parents that sexual predators can use these websites and chat rooms to prey on children.”
Okay, so librarians need a note from home. Not a ban, though.
The bill requires that schools protect ” against access to a commercial social networking website or chat room unless used for an educational purpose with adult supervision.”
Okay again, so Wikipedia is allowed as long as the teacher’s in the room and its used for learning. Still not a ban.
That’s good news for librarians and teachers. Fretting over DOPA last year, the Young Adult Library Services Association compiled a list of 30 positive effects of social networking, and why it’s good for libraries. Judging by the last few sentences of that report, there is concern that our legislators don’t really understand the modern world.
…it remains important for librarians and others working and advocating for (and with) teens to continue to educate members of their communities about the real aspects of technology in teen lives. It’s important not to automatically buy into the hype. It’s also important to learn about and try the technologies in order to understand exactly what they do and do not do.
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