Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site cadre.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!unc!mcnc!idis!cadre!geb From: geb@cadre.UUCP Newsgroups: net.news,net.ai,net.legal Subject: Re: Software to screen future net news. Message-ID: <139@cadre.ARPA> Date: Wed, 9-Jan-85 08:45:23 EST Article-I.D.: cadre.139 Posted: Wed Jan 9 08:45:23 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 11-Jan-85 23:22:37 EST References: <494@vortex.UUCP> <32@osu-eddie.UUCP> <1326@eosp1.UUCP> Reply-To: geb@cadre.UUCP (Gordon E. Banks) Organization: Decision Systems Lab., Univ. of Pgh. Lines: 18 Xref: watmath net.news:2940 net.ai:2458 net.legal:1265 Summary: Regarding the proposed censorship of net news: could someone please outline the following: 1. The need for such. I haven't seen much that is overtly offensive on the net. As far as libel, why not let the poster worry about that? Has there been a court case that holds the entire network responsible for libel? If not, why not show a little backbone instead of knuckling under to hypothetical threats? I'm not saying someone might not get sued, but this cringing in fear of the parasitical elements of our society (lawyers) is destroying freedom of speech. 2. The authority for such. Who has the right to censor net postings? I suppose whoever owns the hardware at a particular node MAY have the legal right to do it, but elsewhere, I think it's doubtful. Does AT&T own the net, or what?