High Court upholds block of Web porn law

From USA Today:

The 5-4 decision, on the last day of rulings in the court's annual term, was another blow for Congress in its nearly decade-long effort to protect minors by restricting materials in cyberspace. The court's majority suggested the law is likely unconstitutional, and it suggested that perhaps parents, rather than lawmakers, should take the lead in screening kids' Web access. (Related story: Court suggests computer filters)

The justices affirmed a lower court's order blocking the Child Online Protection Act (COPA), which bans commercial Web site operators from posting sexually explicit material that can be seen by those under age 17. The law makes the operators responsible for installing age-verification systems. Violators can be fined up to $50,000 and imprisoned for up to six months. The law has not been enforced.

Technoflak is pleased as she feels this law would have had many unintended consequences, all of them bad. She is curious that lawmakers who are so eager to place limits on the web are so reluctant to take strong action against obscene spam.