SleepyEgg

Libraries that choose to filter Internet access are not engaging in censorship, according to the Washington Supreme Court. The court made its decision late last week on 6-3 vote, with the majority noting that libraries are not obligated to provide universal access to all constitutionally protected speech just because it exists. Still, the dissenting justices feel that filters should be removed at the request of an adult, and that the decision is "draconian."

The case was originally brought against the North Central Regional Library (NCRL) by three patrons who found that they were unable to access certain sites on the library's computers. NCRL had implemented a use policy—as well as FortiGate filtering software across all its branches—that barred access to certain kinds of content, such as porn, gambling sites, Web chat services, proxy avoidance tools, and other "adult" content. According to NCRL's policy, sites that were erroneously blocked could be unblocked at the request of an adult patron, but otherwise, the filter remained in place even if an adult were to request immediate access to certain forbidden sites.