DOPA
From LIS 460 Summer 2007
Deleting Online Predators Act
Contents |
Just the Facts
DOPA was introduced before the House of Representatives May 9, 2006 by (R) Mike Fitzpatrick. It was part of the Suburban Caucus agenda. The act was intended to amend the Communications Act of 1934 by requiring that schools and libraries that receive E-Rate funding to protect minors in loco parentis. It is awaiting review by the Senate and clarification of its terms and conditions by the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission. DOPA specifically regards social networking sites and active chats. However, it allows for the use of the indicated sites by adults and children with adult supervision for educational purposes.
What is Off-Limits
Any commercially operated net site that hosts user profiles with personal information that is viewable by others is considered a "commercial social networking site". Any site with chat capabilities is deemed a "chat room". These definitions were created with sites like MySpace and Friendster in mind, but educators' main concern is that they could and do include other sites of educational value.
Pro
DOPA would monitor children's safety on the Internet. When parents cannot protect their children from dangers of web use (either because they are unaware, uneducated, or uncomfortable with the computer themselves), DOPA would prevent children from seeing inappropriate subject matter or encountering dangerous people or situations.
Con
Most educators and liberals believe that making so much of the Internet prohibited is not the best way to keep children safe. Rather, the best way to protect our children is to educate them about proper Internet use and safe social habits. We have the ability to teach children how to determine what is safe and what is dangerous.
DOPA excludes a lot of valid educational material by focusing on the technology of the sites and not the content. It doesn't take more effort to briefly assess a site in question to determine the integrity of its contents. That can and should be done rather than excluding a site strictly because it contains a blog.
It is unrealistic to assume that students won't have other access to questionable materials. If we can teach them how to filter through the information they use and view on the Internet, they will be safer in the long run.
Also, that which is forbidden is much more appealing. If those in position of authority make such a fuss about hiding social networking sites from children, those children will only try that much harder to sneak around on the Internet. All that sneaking is what gets young people in trouble in the first place.
What DOPA Means for the SLMS
If librarians uphold the ALA's Bill of Rights and do not discriminate the information they help patrons find, they risk losing government funding.
Placing bans on the Internet hinders the depth and quality of student research and expression.
School librarians would not be able to teach students how to be fully information literate without complete use of the Web.
All of the innovative technology available to students and educators would be rendered useless.
Sources
Simpson, Carol. "DOPA or Dope-A." Library Media Connection 25.26 (Oct. 2006).
"Social Networking Under Scrutiny." American Libraries 38.4 (Apr. 2007).
