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Related Articles: Filters better than laws against Internet pornography: US supreme court "The US supreme court on Tuesday barred a law that sought to shield minors from Internet pornography on the ground that it interfered with the constitutional right of free speech." Court should keep porn from children "In a 5-4 vote June 29 over a law passed in 1998, the majority ruled that the Child Online Protection Act, signed during President Clinton's administration and supported by the current Bush administration, was a violation of the First Amendment. Simply put, the pornographers who push their obscene material upon unsuspecting web-surfing children are well within their right to do so under the First Amendment." Teen who posted own photo charged with child porn "She has been charged with sexual abuse of children, possession of child pornography and dissemination of child pornography." (additional article) Boy arrested over Net child porn (PDF) "A boy of 15 was among dozens of suspected paedophiles arrested today after police smashed a massive internet ring involving distribution of child pornography." |
Free Speech & Pornography based on notes from January 25, 2004
So, should pornography be allowed on the Net? Many people would rightfully argue that to outlaw such freedom of expression would be a violation of the First Amendment. On the other hand, pornography can be morally harmful to those involved. Sure, it's better to sit at home and look at porn than to engage in the acts shown, but what about the people in those pictures doing those acts? It would be wonderful if we could all simply become less obsessed with sex, but it's not that simple. Until we can make the necessary dramatic change, there must be a balance between morality and freedom of expression. So, if pornography is free speech, shouldn't it be free? Anyone should have the right to exercise his or her freedoms, but should those freedoms come at a price? After all, the reason that pornography is so rampant on the Net is because people can charge and make a profit off of the high demand. If it were no longer profitable, the Net would inevitably clean itself. Make it free and we protect both free speech and morality. As far as the free market is concerned, though, it might not be quite as free. Still, isn't freedom more important than profit?
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