*Updated August 3, 1996*
In February 1996--the same day that President Clinton signed
the Communications Decency Act into law--the ACLU filed suit against
government. (A brief overview of the
issue.)
On June 12, 1996 ...
3-0, The Panel of Federal Judges Struck Down the CDA as Unconstitutional.
Here's a copy of
the opinion.
(Some excerpts from the opinion.)
CDA Analysis
The Trial
Another Trial
Recent Articles
Essentials
Essays and Reports
Relevant Links
Sex, Laws, and Cyberspace
Part I (June 16)
Part II (June 18)
Part III (June 24)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
"No law" means "no law"--Justice Hugo Black
[March 21]
[March 22]
[April 1]
[April 12]
[April 15]
Between the two of us, Mark Mangan and I have attended every day of the preliminary
injunction hearing in federal court in Philadelphia.
Here are our reports from the six days:
The Final Arguments--May 10:
[Part I]
[Part II]
[Part III]
The Religious Right and Internet Censorship (June 2, 1996)
A Nail Through the Genitals: the Outer Limits of Freedom of Speech (May 2, 1996)
The Internet is a Library (April 20, 1996)
Why I Will Not Rate My Site (April 6, 1996)
THE CDA Means Youth Control, Not Youth Protection by Patricia Nell Warren, Novelist and ACLU Plaintiff (April 6, 1996)
The Ethical Spectacle sues Janet Reno
My Speech in Lafayette Park, (February 10, 1996)
The Temporary Restraining Order (February 15, 1996)
The TRO Doesn't Go Far Enough (February 18, 1996)
The Indecent Bible by Tanith Tyrr (March 7, 1996)
President Clinton's Spine (March 7, 1996)
These organizations are intimately involved in the
battle for free speech on the Internet:
The ACLU
Voters Telecommunications Watch
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
Center for Democracy and Technology
Email me at
jw@bway.net