{"id":8908,"date":"2012-01-04T09:49:31","date_gmt":"2012-01-04T17:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildhunt\/?p=8908"},"modified":"2012-01-04T10:10:30","modified_gmt":"2012-01-04T18:10:30","slug":"aclu-tackles-the-occult-category-in-internet-filtering-software","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildhunt\/2012\/01\/aclu-tackles-the-occult-category-in-internet-filtering-software.html","title":{"rendered":"ACLU Tackles the “Occult” Category in Internet Filtering Software"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Yesterday the ACLU announced that it has filed a lawsuit against a library in Salem, Missouri<\/a> (download the full complaint<\/a>) for using Internet filtering software that blocks websites pertaining to Wicca and Native American religions. As Ars Technica notes<\/a>, sites blocked by the library\u2019s software include Wikipedia\u2019s page on Wicca<\/a>, but not Christian-run pages that are critical of Pagan religions<\/a>. According to the ACLU filing, Salem\u2019s\u00a0library director, Glenda Wofford, said \u201cshe would only allow access to blocked sites if she felt patrons had a legitimate reason to view the content and further said that she had an obligation to report people who wanted to view these sites to the authorities.<\/strong>\u201c<\/em> While there\u2019s no doubt the press are paying attention to this story<\/a> because of the \u201cWitch\u201d angle<\/a>, I am extremely glad the \u201coccult\u201d category on Internet filtering software is finally being pushed into the spotlight.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s unbelievable that I should have to justify why I want to access completely harmless websites on the Internet simply because they discuss a minority viewpoint. It\u2019s wrong and demeaning to deny access to this kind of information.\u201d<\/em> \u2013\u00a0Anaka Hunter, The Associated Press<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The default option of filtering occult and Pagan websites is an issue I\u2019ve followed at this site over the years<\/a>, its existence tied directly to the fact that Internet filtering software was initially developed by and for the Christian market<\/a>. As such, the inherent values of that demographic are imprinted into the DNA of the web-filtering industry.\u00a0These programs are then sold to schools, libraries, and government institutions, which can\u00a0lead to controversy and litigation once individuals realize the\u00a0bias inherent in the filter.<\/a> At this point those original biased filtering lists have long since permeated into the secular filter market. Sadly, many (though certainly not all) libraries, schools, and public institutions take a \u201cblock everything until someone complains\u201d<\/a> policy when it comes to this issue.<\/p>\n

I sincerely hope that this case goes to trial, as it\u2019s long past time the \u201coccult\u201d filter, which inevitably includes a raft of non-Christian religious sites, was eliminated from any secular context. If a local Catholic parish wants to block a Wikipedia search for Wicca, fine, but no library or school should be engaging in the default restriction of these sites. Nor should any secular institution be purchasing software that was built on the prejudices and misconceptions of conservative Christian list-makers.<\/p>\n

Oh, and in a final note, you\u2019ll be glad to know that The Wild Hunt<\/em> has (so far) escaped being placed in the \u201coccult\u201d category by Netsweeper<\/a>, the filtering software used by the\u00a0Missouri\u00a0Public Library.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday the ACLU announced that it has filed a lawsuit against a library in Salem, Missouri (download the full complaint) for using Internet filtering software that blocks websites pertaining to Wicca and Native American religions. As Ars Technica notes, sites blocked by the library\u2019s software include Wikipedia\u2019s page on Wicca, but not Christian-run pages that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,6],"tags":[34,3121,1081,1329,1507,1580,2633],"class_list":["post-8908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-paganism","category-religion","tag-aclu","tag-filtering-software","tag-internet","tag-libraries","tag-missouri","tag-native-american","tag-wicca"],"yoast_head":"\nACLU Tackles the "Occult" Category in Internet Filtering Software<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Yesterday the ACLU announced that it has filed a lawsuit against a library in Salem, Missouri (download the full complaint) for using Internet filtering\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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