What is blocking/filtering software?
Blocking/filtering software is a mechanism used to: • restrict access to Internet content, based on an internal database of the product, or; • restrict access to Internet content through a database maintained external to the product itself, or; • restrict access to Internet content to certain ratings assigned to those sites by a third party, or; • restrict access to Internet content by scanning content, based on a keyword, phrase or text string or; • restrict access to Internet content based on the source of the information. Problems with the use of blocking/filtering software in libraries Publicly supported libraries are governmental institutions subject to the First Amendment, which forbids them from restricting information based on viewpoint or content discrimination. Libraries are places of inclusion rather than exclusion. Current blocking/filtering software prevents not only access to what some may consider “objectionable” material, but also blocks information protected by the Fir
