However, insofar as these safeguards represent prior restraint, it is argued by many that these actions represent a form of censorship. The American Civil Liberties Union is currently challenging the University of Oklahoma's decision to limit access to several alt.sex USEnet Newsgroups as being an unconstitutional restraint by an arm of the government. The OU action seems to be a response to Oklahoma House Bill 1048, which makes the distribution of indecent material to minors on the Internet illegal. Despite the restraining order, clearly public concern over the free access to information may intrude into the sanctum of the university community. Since practically all students at an institution of higher education are legal adults, considering the appellate courts' opinion, one could question the advisability of restraining Internet content on a university campus.
Technology exists to restrict an individual access to selected materials and internet locations.
The academic community needs to begin thinking of the balance between the principle of intellectual freedom that is integral to the mission of higher education, and the community's concerns of unlimited access to information. Feasibility and Societal Implications . Higher Education in Transition, 3ed Edition. Applying Library Intellectual Freedom Principles to Public and Academic Computers. Civil Action No.