Judge stays enforcement of Internet decency law

PENNSYLVANIA–In mid-November, United States District Judge Lowell Reed in Philadelphia ordered the Justice Department to delay enforcement of the Child Online Protection Act. Reed issued a temporary restraining order until the court holds full hearings, which are scheduled for Dec. 8 and 9.

The Child Online Protection Act requires commercial web sites to collect a credit card number or some other adult access code as proof of age before allowing Internet users to view material considered harmful to minors. On October 22, 17 on-line publishers, retailers and other organizations filed suit challenging the constitutionality of the act.

(ACLU v. Reno)