From: kadie@eff.org (Carl M. Kadie)
Subject: Abstract of CAF-News 02.40
Originator: kadie@eff.org
Organization: The Electronic Frontier Foundation
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 14:14:52 GMT

This is an abstract for the most recent "Computers and Academic
Freedom News" (CAF-News). Information about CAF-News follows the
abstract. The full CAF-News is available via anonymous ftp or by
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The full CAF-News is also available via email. Send email to
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--- begin abstract ---
[Week ending August 16th, 1992

========================== KEY ================================
The words after the numbers are a short PARAPHRASES of the
articles, or QUOTES from them, NOT AN OBJECTIVE SUMMARY and
not necessarily my opinion.
===============================================================

   [Many issues are in production - Carl]

Notes 1 to 5 concern the censorship of materials on the basis of
alleged obscenity (as defined by a recent Canadian Surpeme Court
decision).  This debate arose in the wake of some Canadian
institutions' removal of the Usenet alt.sex hierarchy.

1. "Deciding something should be censored because it could have
indirect negative effects is not a stand against pornography, it's a
stand against the whole notion of free speech... The strength of free
speech [is that] you get to hear as much as you wish to hear from
whomever you care to listen to, and then make up your own mind about
what the truth is."
    <n+3m#f+.barry@netcom.com>

2. "Considered as a whole, alt.sex has scientific, political,
literary, and artistic value and therefore should not be banned as
obscene...  The actions of the administrators show the chilling
effects of the law. Because the law is so vague and because it
provides no easy way to ask for definitive clarifications, such
effects are inevitable."
    <1992Aug11.112000.4307@m.cs.uiuc.edu>

3. "I am not [in favour of] censoring reasoned argument that, for
instance, "women like rape" or "children like sex with adults" (much
as I abhor that position).  I am for censoring certain material that
makes no arguments, presents no opinions, and can have the effect of
reinforcing and encouraging rapists and child molesters."
    <1992Aug11.183602.4348@cs.sfu.ca>

4. This article gives a list of cases in which material has been
threatened with censorship on the basis of obscenity in the USA since
the 1930s.
    <TSDAVIES.92Aug13021657@rodan.syr.EDU>

5. "Pornography, and by this I'm referring to the explicit display of
women for consumption by men, is part of the reproduction of cultural
meaning in our society.  It DOES discuss ideas. It addresses the
question of what is the cultural standard for a sexually desirable
woman, and what her power relation is to the man who can have access
to a commodified version of her sexuality through the purchase of a
representation of this idealized sexuality."
    <1992Aug15.213252.22415@sfu.ca>


Notes 6 to 10 concern whether Usenet sites should refuse to receive
newsgroups which contain copyrighted materials.

6. While I am strongly opposed to censorship based on notions of
offensiveness, I am tempted to follow a policy that newsgroups
which are used to distribute demonstrably illegal materials should
not be carried.
    <BsxH08.GE8@mtholyoke.edu>

7. The exclusion of illegal newsgroups would be in line with library
policies, which state that "1) laws should be obeyed 2) legal advice
should obtained from compete sources 3) restrictive laws should be
challenged (with legal means) 4) and that challenged material should
be given due process."
    <1992Aug13.180458.9340@m.cs.uiuc.edu>

8. If it could be argued that Usenet was a common carrier then only
the posters of illegal material would be legally help accountable.
However, the common carrier argument has never been tested and ignores
the heavily state funded nature of the Internet and therefore Usenet.
    <1992Aug13.195436.19296@telematics.com>

9. "While USENET is certainly a service and a priviledge, at an
ACADEMIC institution most people consider it quite inappropriate for
any person or committee to judge what material is acceptable and what
is not."
    <BszFJn.5HF@mtholyoke.edu>

10. "After reading other people's views on the issue, I have decided
that for the time being I will continue my current policy of carrying
everything, and if I am challenged on it by my superiors, will
strongly recommend AGAINST restricting the flow of News through our
system in any way."
    <BszA6L.2E9@mtholyoke.edu>


Note 11 contains an article by Jim Boyce which appeared on July 14th
in the Wilfrid Laurier University's student newspaper, the Cord.  It
is posted with his permission.

11. After a student brought the matter to the attention of the
newspaper, questions have been raised at WLU about a program used by
Computing Services to find "profane" file names.
    <1992Aug13.182157.5688@m.cs.uiuc.edu>

- Elizabeth]

--- end   abstract ---

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Disclaimer: This CAF-News abstract was compiled by a guest editor or a
regular editor (Paul Joslin, Elizabeth M. Reid, Adam C. Gross, Mark C.
Sheehan or Carl M. Kadie). It is not an EFF publication. The views an
editor expresses and editorial decisions he or she makes are his or
her own.

--
Carl Kadie -- I do not represent EFF; this is just me.
 =kadie@eff.org, kadie@cs.uiuc.edu =

Newsgroups: alt.lang.basic