Does CIPA mandate the use of any particular blocking software or filtering settings?
There is no obligation to use any particular filter in the library. The statute and regulations require only that certifying libraries use a “technology protection measure” that “protects against access” to Internet materials that are obscene, child pornography, and, during use by minors under 17 years-old, “harmful to minors.” Because the inherent flaws of blocking software make it impossible ensure that these materials are filtered, a library will be deemed CIPA-compliant as long as it makes a “good faith” effort to block these categories of online materials. Libraries, therefore, have some flexibility in selecting, crafting, and modifying the required filtering technology to meet CIPA’s blocking and disabling requirements.
