E.g., the legal arm of the Church of Scientology is vigorously litigating to force a bulletin-board operator to entirely prohibit all access to a COS critic whom COS contends has distributed pages of its copyrighted works, and is also demanding that a major network services provider monitor all public transmissions that pass through its facilities and censor them of copyrighted COS text. Legislative and regulatory bodies should consider carefully, the implications of attempting to use technology as an excuse for attacking First Amendment freedoms. Sexual content forms a continuum, from essential to outrageous. Furthermore, what may be inappropriate for one group is crucial for another group. Technological solutions There are problems with cybersex - most of them related to children.
Computer programs can allow users to self-censor offensive text.
Programs can scan all incoming text and 'X'-out words and phrases that the user specifies as being objectionable. Filter lists can be passworded for adult control. Such limits could be inclusive or exclusive - allowing the supervising person to specify what is accessible, or what is blocked. Those who are offended by such parental or teacher oversight need not use them. For people who are being harassed, reader software could be designed and warranted to retain a certified copy of all such transactions, for use as evidence in criminal prosecution or civil litigation.