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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?