One judge ruled that the state may not reduce the adult population of Michigan to reading only what is fit for children. When a government action or law causes people to avoid legal speech and publication out of fear of prosecution, the action is said to have a chilling effect on First Amendment rights. Protecting children It is illegal to create, possess, or disseminate child pornography. Illegal to lure children into sexual acts. CompuServe and other allow subscriber to lock children out of certain areas.
Commercial services cooperate with investigations of child pornography.
Software products available to block access to sites inappropriate for children. Since the Net is global, U.S. government cannot control sites outside the country. They are still accessible from a computer with a modem. Underground BBSs will provide what some people want. Illegal activities will be virtually eliminated on the larger commercial services.