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"As a matter of constitutional tradition, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we presume that governmental regulation of the content of speech is more likely to interfere with the free exchange of ideas than to encourage it. The interest in encouraging freedom of expression in a democratic society outweighs any theoretical but unproven benefit of censorship."

With these words, the Communications Decency Act was ruled unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court on June 26, 1997. Specifically, the Supreme Court stated that the CDA lacked "the precision that the First Amendment requires when a statute regulates the content of speech". For the full text of this decision, follow the graphic link below. But the fight isn't over. Presently, more than twenty state legislatures are seeking to implement their own limitations on Internet speech. It is also very probable that more precise, CDA inspired legislation will emerge in Congress. As the links below demonstrate, the CDA is far from the only crisis on the Internet. Get informed, and get involved...before it's too late.

[Results of the court decision]

[Tiny Blue Ribbon] Beyond the Supreme Court Decision

  • C|NET - New CDA legislation expected

    • [Tiny Blue Ribbon] The Supreme Court Decision

  • CNN - Supreme Court Strikes Down Internet Smut Law
  • C|NET - the CDA Decision
  • The CDA in the Supreme Court - from the Electronic Privacy Information Center
  • Wired News - CDA Struck Down

    • [Tiny Blue Ribbon] History of the CDA

  • Senate Debate and NPR Stories on Exon Ammendment

    • [Tiny Blue Ribbon] The Fight Against the CDA

  • Text of the ACLU suit

    • [Tiny Blue Ribbon] Taking Action

  • Blue Ribbon Campaign for Online Free Speech
  • Information on parental control
  • Security & Privacy Software
  • Suggestions for CDA Civil Disobedience

    • [Tiny Blue Ribbon] Other Battlegrounds

  • Cryptography Policy
  • Digital Telephony
  • Privacy

    • [Tiny Blue Ribbon] Organizations Defending Your Liberties

  • American Civil Liberties Union
  • Center for Democracy and Technology
  • Citizens Internet Empowerment Coalition
  • Electronic Frontier Foundation
  • Electronic Privacy Information Center
  • The Internet Caucus -- federal legislators supportive of online freedoms
  • Internet Privacy Coalition
  • Voters Telecom Watch

    • [Tiny Blue Ribbon] More Information

  • Clipper III -- government-approved encryption
  • The ACLU's Cyberliberties Update
  • The Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say Online
  • New encryption legislation designed to counter the Clipper II proposal

    [Golden Key]The Golden Key Campaign

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