To: All Mar-21-94 18:25:54 Subject: Censors Subj : SB#040194 Computer Censors The April is

From:    Larry Sites
To:      All                                    Mar-21-94 18:25:54
Subject: Censors

Subj    : SB#040194 Computer Censors

The April issue of _PC Computing_ magazine has an article on 
page 88 by John C. Dvorak about a new senate bill #040194 that 
would make using a computer while intoxicated or to discuss sex 
illegal! Apparently congress is so stupid that they think 
driving drunk on the Information Highway is so dangerous that 
it must be prohibited! According to Dvorak, the FBI hopes to do 
routine wiretaps if a person "uses or abuses alcohol and has 
access to a modem". He says they are allready advertising for 
more employees with wiretap skills.

This bill also makes it a felony to discuss sexual matters on 
any public-access network and he specifically names Internet, 
America Online and CompuServe. He doesn't say so, but I assume 
that this would also apply to BBS nets such as Fido and 
RelayNet. Apparently this is being backed by the Fundi 
Christians and a Georgia group has already forced the Georgia 
based Hayes modem maker to stop opposing it.

Do you know how absurd this might become? I have already been 
banned from a Fundi conference on FamilyNet because I broke 
their rule that sex wasn't to be discussed. I quoted an 
encyclopedia article about condom effectiveness! Because this 
article refers to human sexual body parts in medical terms, I 
was banned for discussing "sexual matters!"

According to Dvorak, the only people opposing this bill are the 
ACLU and the Washington law firm of Bernstein, Bernstein and 
Knowles. He also claims to have discussed the bill with CA 
senator Barbara Boxer. I just called my 2 CA senators offices 
and Fienstiens office thought the bill number was bogus and 
called Patrick Leahy's office, the sponsor ided by Dvorak, and 
they claim no knowledge. So what's up, has someone pulled a 
hoax on PC Computing or is Big Brother out to get us? You 
decide.


 Peace, Larry
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