Gay Today: Technology

Al Gore Hails Parental
Internet Censoring Plan

By Patricia Conklin

Washington, D.C.—In the wake of Littleton, Colorado's high school murders, Vice-President Al Gore touted a parental censorship plan last week that has received support from consumer activists, bipartisan supporters, and Internet company executives.

"We understand that the Internet's stunning technology gives children and families access to an incredible world of information and, like life itself, most of it is great," said Gore prefacing his promoting of the plan, "But there are some dark corners, there are some free fire zones and red light districts in cyberspace from which children must be protected."

Opponents of Internet censorship, especially of a sort that concerns itself with the nebulous term "red light districts"— are recalling that it was the Vice president's wife, Tipper Gore, who inaugurated a censorship campaign opposing certain song lyrics published by major record companies.

Gay activists fear that responsible gay sites useful to youths who are struggling to come out may be struck down through any censoring of what Gore refers to as the Internet's "red light districts."

"Any kind of censorship, especially those that call for restrictions based on 'child protection', are to be expected from both Democrats and Republicans in the wake of the Columbine High School tragedy," said Steve Yates, a Democratic party stalwart, "But I'd rather be censored on any day by Democrats than by Republicans because the GOP is really so much more Gestapo-serious about it."

Gore was quoted opining: "All of us have an obligation as Americans to…change our lives in order to honor those who died at Columbine High School."

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The Vice-president, congratulating Internet businesses supporting his stance, continued: "Public opinion polls have found many Americans blame the Columbine shooting on the Internet, easy access to firearms, violent TV shows and video games and bad parenting."

The Vice-president is hailing a "protection page" which, he says, "will appear on virtually every Internet starting point, automatically, by this July."

According to the latest reports describing this plan, the "protection page" will provide worried parents with information about how they may track and censor their children's access to unwanted Web sites. The page will also provide safety tips and means to report "on-line crimes" or "other troubling activity."

Internet companies who have signed on to the plan include: America Online, AT&T, At Home Network, Bell Atlantic, Commercial Internet Exchange, Disney Online, Excite, Lycos, MCI World Com, Microsoft, Network solutions, Netscape, Mindspring Enterprises, Prodigy Communications, and Yahoo.

Gore explained: "As a result of what the Internet service providers and the related companies in the industry are doing today, 95-plus-percent of all Internet users will automatically get a pop-up page every time they go to the Internet that will show them, in very easy steps, how they can provide their children with maximum protection."

Democratic strategist Yates said: "Gore's plan goes, at least, in the right direction—putting censorship into the hands of parents. At least he's not trying to censor providers and those of us who are old enough to choose our own 'red light district' sites."