| Internet content-control software, also known as | | | | users would be deprived of information about |
| censorware or web filtering software, controls the | | | | breast cancer, and possibly parades ("they |
| content of web pages received on a user's | | | | marched three abreast,") women's clothing, and |
| computer. This software can protect children and | | | | chicken recipes. Arcadia University was once called |
| prevent employees from wasting time by viewing | | | | Beaver College in honor of its location in suburban |
| and processing documents unrelated to their | | | | Philadelphia. It changed its name partly because its |
| assigned tasks. | | | | website was consistently blocked by Internet |
| Parental controls are options found in digital | | | | filters. Even the Vatican's website has been |
| television services, computer and video games, or | | | | blocked. Interestingly enough some people request |
| on the Internet which enable a parent to block, | | | | that their computer be blocked. Why? That's how |
| monitor, or limit a child's access to these activities. | | | | they can deal with their Internet addiction to |
| Of course, many young people will find ways to | | | | objectionable sites. |
| bypass these restrictions. Perhaps parents can be | | | | Many public libraries in the United States and |
| proud that their kids are learning to deal with the | | | | abroad employ Internet filters, perhaps only for |
| computer. | | | | children. In some areas adult users may request |
| Filters can be implemented in many different | | | | that these filters be disabled without having to |
| ways: such as by a program running on the user's | | | | give a reason. There is a debate over the filtering |
| computer or via the Internet service provider | | | | issue and the legal situation is constantly evolving. |
| (ISP). Some people reject the idea of letting the | | | | One cannot always count on such filters to be |
| ISP decide for them what constitutes | | | | effective. In Australia a 16 year old is said to |
| objectionable material. Other individuals are only | | | | have broken through an $84 million filter in about |
| too glad to rely on the ISP's expertise in blocking | | | | 30 minutes, within a week of the software |
| such material. | | | | implementation. Several techniques are available |
| Whether the filtering program is located on the | | | | for circumventing such software. Can we assume |
| user's computer or at the Internet service | | | | that these filters will block access to web pages |
| provider there is always a danger that the | | | | describing these techniques? Of course these |
| program blocks too many communications. For | | | | programs should permit authorized users to |
| example if the program simply blocked all sites or | | | | bypass and modify the filters. |
| even all pages that contained the word "breast", | | | | |