DOPA (Delete Online Predators Act) is not a bill conceived by informed individuals. The 410 – 15 approval on the House floor is not a reflection of how good and decent an idea this is.
This is a bad thing, and the informed public agrees, vigorously. But it will pass through the Senate. It will not be vetoed. It will be upheld in the courts. And it will be enforced. Just as COPPA was.
I’m going to be the one person on record who isn’t concerned. Or surprised. Or pissed. Here’s why… The aim of this proposed legislation is to keep minors off MySpace (and the like) while on public terminals at school or public libraries. The FCC will provide a list of sites to block, and the uninformed legislators will get their sense of regulation. And if the FCC gets too aggressive and starts adding the wrong sites to that list (ie: Amazon.com) one of two things will happen. These sites will modify their services to split functionality and remove social aspects when accessed via a clean pipe (er, tube.) Or, the courts will begin to tear DOPA down.
4 Responses to “DOPA (Let’s Keep Kids Off MySpace, At School)”
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I was surprised and disappointed that the vote was 410-15. Many of those who oppose DOPA do so because they believe that children should be educated and not restricted. I agree that they should be educated, but let us face it, not all parents do their job and the parents who are doing their job are left with schools and libraries that are not doing their job.
I can not speak on behalf of the US, but I know that surprisingly some Canadian public libraries and schools do not monitor children’s internet access nor do they have filters in place. We were all teens once. I keep hearing the same comments. “Parents do your job.†Well I ask you this, “How many of you rebelled against your parents?â€
No matter how much we take care of our children and educate them, it only takes them making one unhealthy choice to put them at risk. You can educate your child untill you are all blue in the face. The truth is that children don’t often think of the consequences of unhealthy choices. If DOPA will save just one child, don’t you think the bill is worth it?
I do want to add that while I support the bill, I do think that the legislation should be rewritten so it does not block sites such as Yahoo and Google. I think they need to better determine what sites will be blocked before passing the law.
These are just my thoughts!
Iam appaulled. Myspace is nothing but a online community allowing people to interact with friends. this is a very popular website that your children will go on weither you want them or not. The more you make it a big deal to take it away from them the more they will try to go on this site in school. I have been a myspace member for 5 years now, Myspace is safe. you need to understand that On myspace it specifically states to not give out personal information. If your child decides to talk to some one and tell their personal information it isnt myspaces problem. because they specifically have u agree to these laws. this is the same with aol instant messanger, msn and yahoo messanger. children have been stalked by online prediters but with myspace ur child has the oppertunity to add only the people that he or she knows.&you can make your profile private and only allow your friends to veiw your page.
You should know, that the more you tell people they can’t have something, the more enticing it becomes.
All it is, is a site allowing people to connect and communicate with friends.
People can move away to different countries even, and have that as their only way to keep in touch with home.
If some people are dumb enough to fall for online predators, people should talk to them and make sure they know better.
Personally, I don’t know anybody who would be gullible enough to fall for predators.