From Deseret News archives:

Utahn tries new tack in battle over Net porn

CP80 proposal would reroute all adult-oriented content to certain ports — like cable TV

Published: Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005 4:40 p.m. MST
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No matter what Web site children are visiting, Internet pornography is just one click away, Manning said. And with tricks and traps being employed by Internet pornographers — such as creating links that say one thing but take users to pornographic sites or using misspelled variations of popular Web sites to attract unsuspecting traffic — it's easy to unintentionally view pornographic material.

"If you can click a mouse, you can be exposed to porn," she said.

CP80's solution, with accompanying legislation in place that can be used to prosecute violators, would solve that problem, too, Yarro said, by keeping all adult content on designated channels or ports.

The Internet, he explained, is made up of more than 65,000 ports that are used to categorize content and services. However, all content viewed when users browse a Web site — news, sports scores, children's games or pornography — uses the same port: Port 80.

"Thus the name, CP80," Yarro said. "CP80 originally stood for Clean Port 80. It's really the process of cleaning up and providing more channels."

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So why aren't more of the 65,000-plus ports being used for content? Good question, Yarro said.

"There is a plentiful amount of channels out there," he said. "Why are we not taking adult content and assigning it to its own channel? Doesn't that make sense?"

By assigning adult content to its own channel or channels, Yarro said, CP80 avoids the pitfall of previous legislative attempts to clean up the Internet: violations of the First Amendment.

"We had to preserve freedom of speech," he said, "and that's what we've done."

Instead of trying to censor the Internet, CP80 gives those who don't want access to pornographic material on the Internet the ability to restrict that, Yarro said. Pornographers will still be able to publish their content, and those who wish to view it can do so.

"It's not censoring," he said, "and I don't believe I'll hear a free-speech fight. Bottom line: The consumer who wants the Internet like they have it today, nothing has changed. You still have it all. Those who don't want it, on an opt-in basis, won't get it."

With the technology in place, the focus now is on legislation, Yarro said. Laws need to be enacted to mandate that adult content be broadcast on designated ports, as well as to empower the private sector to enforce compliance and require Internet service providers to assist consumers in the identification of violators, he said.

"There needs to be a legislative process to determine, dictate and be very specific in forcing adult content onto its own channel," Yarro said. "I don't believe we'll get the movement without legislation. We need the penalties associated with noncompliance."


E-mail: jpage@desnews.com

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