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Utah Internet providers could earn 'G-rating'

Howzabout someone tell the bluenoses at the LDS to keep their narrow-minded views and desires away from the internet.

Maybe Utah needs to read the 1st Amendment.

This is what the Red Chinese do...CENSOR.

There is no censoring going on here, just a label. I know as a parent (not a LDS member) I would like this to be available everywhere.

Trying to block something on the Internet is futile, unless you want to create Great Chinese Wall. (which is circumventable as well)

LDS thought control at its finest.

I would love to see this type of an Option available to people.

And no you cant block everything but you CAN make it more difficult to get through and for some people that would help a whole lot. Trying to stop death is futile too but we've added to the quality of life by trying our best and doing what we can.

I wonder if perhaps they could expand this program to label telephone providers who use robots to bleep out naughty words in conversations - THINGS I DON'T WANT MY PRECIOUS CHILD (she's only 16 for God's sake!) TO EVER EVER HEAR!

I'd also like to see certain highways receive G-ratings. Utah state police could set up roadblocks to ensure no Playboy or Playgirl magazines are being shipped on such roads. They could also look for evidence of recent masturbation by drivers.

Perhaps the program could be expanded to include the labeling of telephone providers who bleep out naughty words to help protect our children from the scourge of obscenity and anti-Mormon blasphemy.

I think it's great. Just because it can't be done completely or perfectly, it is nice to know people are trying. I would certainly support any such attempts. We just have to invent some quality image-interpreting software. :)

HA my comment on here from yesterday is missing now.

If filters were in place like some companies already use. We would not of been able to read about the Legislature concerning one of it's members. As a matter of fact, the local papers could of been removed from publishing his remarks.

There are already software programs on the market that do the same thing, for those who want them.

What a great idea! I'm going to start such an ISP in Utah to do just that. Maybe I could even get a state contract.

Of course, all I'll just put up a "404" error no matter what URL you try to go to, but at least your eyes won't be exposed to something naughty.

This is a bill that good in theory but not in practicality. There is no way to guarantee that someone won't come across some sort of Pornography unless you remove all sites from the Internet.

I absolutely approve of this measure 100% and it has my full support. This is Darwinism at it's most glorious and spectacular; any company that goes along with this will be bankrupt in less than a year as their customers flee like the Hebrews from Egypt.

Allen. you don't think filtering "offensive" material is censoring. when you block/hide anything that would be otherwise available to the public that is censoring. You allready have that ability on your computer, it's called parental controls. Why not practice being a parent and stop relying on the government to do it for you. furthermore do you not think that requireing an ISP to supply user information without a warrant a bit of an invasion of privacy? Because the bill requires that anyone with a seal does this very thing or they will be fined $10,000 for it.

This bill is something that should be stopped and anyone with any level of good sense should see that.

First off will people quit throwing the First Amendment around. If it's opt in it's not First Amendment violation.

So since we've established it's not censorship, we know that it's IMPOSSIBLE. Unless the only protocol the ISP runs in ping.

So when did Google and Yahoo become internet service providers? They don't actually provide internet access, so I wonder if this bill designates that or just uses the standard ISP term to cover everyone.

What is so wrong to have a provide that you actually pay and sign up for offer a filtered internet? It isn't like they are forcing all providers to filter the internet.

It's wrong for an ISP to do this. If people really want to protect their children from naughty things, they need to take that responsibilty upon themselves.

There's a vast array of software out there that is actively updated and blocks porn and other naughty things. Buy that software, install it, use it, and have peace of mind that your kid is protected. Don't ruin everyone else's time with your own morals.

Government doesn't need to step in and it's fully understandable that names like Google and Yahoo are opposed to something like this. If you need someone to step in and say "hey, this is bad for your child," you suck as a parent.

well, up here in canada (where the government isn't so draconian) yahoo is in the isp game through a partnership. Sure, the telecom provides the service, but yahoo provides the name.

So, Yahoo IS an internet service provider, since it is branded rogers/yahoo internet.

As for censoring, well - I don't want my kids to have easy access to alcohol, so is it censoring that it is illegal to sell it to minors?

C'mon, if you look at what this is trying to accomplish, it isn't censorship. If you think it is, you're probably still living in your mother's basement while she pays for the 'net ;)

It is not wrong for an ISP to filter content--if it is requested by the customer. It would be simple for an ISP to resell DSL service like Covad and offer content filtering. Also, dial-up internet service could easily be sold as a filtered internet service. In either case there is and should be a choice of G-rated internet service and regular Adult-rated internet service.

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But of course! ..whose side are /you/ on?

The Taliban is alive and well in Utah. Maybe NATO can come and free us sometime soon.