Utah Gets New Internet Pornography Law - 6,303 Views, 5 Comments
|
Previous Article « Apple Releases New Batch of Patches, Fixes International Domain Names Phishing Flaw in Safari
Read Next Article » VoIP Services Still Being Blocked by Competing ISPs?
Utah Gets New Internet Pornography Law
Follow Anne on
Twitter 
Friend Anne on Facebook
Utah Governor Jim Huntsman has signed a new Internet pornography law into effect which requires Utah ISPs and other service providers to block pornographic websites upon a user’s request. And just to make sure that no service provider has to do the old “I’ll know it when I see it” routine, the law also mandates the creation of a list of pornography websites deemed to be covered by the new anti-pornography law.
Service providers which fail to disable access to pornography sites on the list, following a user’s request, can be subject to felony charges.
The new Internet pornography law says, specifically, “Upon request by a consumer, a service provider may not transmit material from a content provider site listed on the adult content registry” where “service provider” includes any person or organization which “provides an Internet access service to a consumer”. Commentators are concerned about the vagueness of the law, and point out that the definition of “provider” is so broad that it could cover just about anything, including private homes with unencrypted wifi access points.
In addition, under the new law content providers can be required by the Utah state attorney general to provide a rating for any content deemed “harmful to minors” by the Utah AG. The law defines content provider as any site which “creates, collects, acquires or organizes electronic data” for commercial purposes. According to a communication from NetCoalition, an organization which represents such industry giants as Google and Yahoo, “A search engine that links to a Web site in Utah might be required…to ‘properly rate’ the Web site.”
Of course, it’s entirely possible (some even say likely) that the law will be struck down as unconstitutional. But in the meantime, be careful what you do in Utah. At least on the Internet.
Was this information helpful? If so, please leave us a review!
|
Previous Article « Apple Releases New Batch of Patches, Fixes International Domain Names Phishing Flaw in Safari
Read Next Article » VoIP Services Still Being Blocked by Competing ISPs?
Read more:
» Utah Cites First Child Email Address Registry Offender - Too Bad He’s in the Wrong Country
» Police Crack Internet Child Porn Ring as Child Pornography and the Law Clash
» Downloading Porn Is the Same as Making Porn, Says Court
For additional similar stories check out our archives on Internet Law, Over 18
NOTE: We never, ever, ever will recommend any product or service on this site that we have not regularly used ourselves and do not wholeheartedly believe in. That said, in some cases after being very pleased with a product or service, we may enter into a relationship with the provider of that product or service such that if someone purchases that product or service based on our recommendation, we may get a small payment. Such payments go towards the upkeep of the Internet Patrol.
Wow! Great! Awesome! So much for parenting I guess. Will they have laws to cover IRC chat, Instant Messaging, New Servers and the like sometime soon? We need to encourage parents to parent!
Comment by Woody — 3/22/2005 @ 3:22 pm
Actually this plan has nothing to do with internet pornography, rather it’s a law designed to lower the unemployment rate in Utah. It must be, can you imagine the work involved in maintaining an up to date “adult content registry” that is effective enough to be worthwhile? Because it seems they are not talking about a register of keywords / bayesian filter data etc, but a register of actual websites.
But seriously:
If they want to do this wouldn’t it be more efficient to require ISP’s to provide adult filtering upon request, but instead provide ISP’s a subsidy/tax rebate for the purchase of suitable commercial server based filtering software.
Comment by ZacOz — 3/23/2005 @ 4:55 am
Finally!!! They’ve needed to regulate porn for too long. I hope a bill like this is passed in every state. Although it should be a little more strict in my opinion. They are going to need a way to govern these sites. Unfortunately we won’t be getting wankers out there like woody (first commenter) to help. He is obviously not a parent. So Im all up for doing my job as a parent and doing whatever I can to limit these sites. Even if it is to go so far as to slap some sense into retards like him. Who cares about employment! I’d do it for free!!!
Comment by BanPorn — 6/2/2007 @ 9:16 am
Jesus… any one have even a shred of a clue as to how many sites that would be?
Comment by J — 3/30/2009 @ 3:11 pm
Seriously? Who the hell are any of you to tell me what I can and cannot do in the privacy of my own home? Or tell me what I can buy on the internet?! I love Utah but this has gone too far! While we fight socialism in Federal Govt now we have to fight Fascism in our State Govt. It’s BS!!!!!!
Comment by Gayl — 1/4/2010 @ 7:29 pm