Issues of censorship vs privacy on computer networks
Joanne Costello · 1991
In June 1990, a front-page headline in the "HoustonChronicle" announced "Computer Porno a Keystroke Away."Joe Abernathy, the author of the article, claimed that at least one high school student with access to the Intemet for school work had stumbled across "the world's most sophisticated pornography ring," finding both spicy stories and explicit graphics.Furthermore, he claimed, this was not mere porn, but copyrighted porn, electronically duplicated without a license Abernathy's article raised serious issues relating to the questionable use of federally funded telecommunication facilities and federally funded computer storage.It also prompted many calls for restraint, if not censorship, on the network.According to some people, concerns raised by the Abernathy article that the network was being used for unauthorized traffic led to the defeat in Congress of the bill for a national network (NREN).54 q