Politech: FC: Privacy Foundation says censoring libraries == protecting privacy

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

Sometimes groups should stick to what they're good at, and this release 
from the Privacy Foundation (which has done good work in other areas) is 
one of those times. How can Keating claim with a straight face that 
libraries do not carry "pornographic magazines" because it would violate 
the "privacy" of a large number of their patrons? (For one thing, anyone 
who's worried about their privacy could choose not to borrow that magazine.)
The argument is just silly.

I'm hardly an expert in this area but I do know a few things: 1. some 
libraries do carry sexually-explicit material; 2. such material also is 
commonly available via interlibrary loan; 3. libraries that don't carry 
such materials typically do it because it doesn't fit with collection 
development policies, because such materials are often stolen or destroyed, 
and sometimes (if truth be told) because of community pressure. In any 
case, the "privacy" rights of patrons have nothing to do with it.
-Declan

---

Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 16:06:28 -0600
Subject: Media Tipsheet: Courts Library Porn Filter Makes Sense
From: sk () privacyfoundation org (Stephen Keating)

"The Supreme Court's ruling today that obligates public libraries to filter 
out Internet porn is, on balance, the right decision," said Stephen 
Keating, executive director of the Privacy Foundation, based at the 
University of Denver. "The issue of privacy cuts both ways in this debate. 
Library patrons should have relatively unfettered access to the Internet 
without worrying about authorities monitoring their clickstream."
"However, public libraries do not typically carry pornographic magazines 
and videos in their collections. Why not? In part, because those materials 
would offend the modesty and privacy of a large number of patrons, 
including minors."
"There is a slipperly slope argument to be made about whether library 
Internet filtering will be go too far and block legitimate content. That's 
a proper subject for local communities and their citizens to resolve."



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