April 2, 2006 | Sex & Society

Feds demand data from more Internet firms

When Google Inc. refused to cooperate with a federal subpoena of search engine data to support its case against Internet porn, free speech advocates rejoiced. They may have popped the champagne cork a little too soon, however, as new public documents reveal the government sent similar subpoenas to at least 34 other companies.

InformationWeek magazine unearthed the additional subpoenas, according to The Associated Press, which were given to a variety of Internet service providers and other technology firms, including Comcast Corp., Earthlink, AT&T, Verizon, Cox Communications and Symantec.

The subpoenas were issued by the U.S. Department of Justice as it prepares for an October trial in Philadelphia in support of the 1998 Child Online Protection Act (COPA). The law -- which has twice been shut down by the U.S. Supreme Court as a likely violation of the First Amendment -- would criminalize Internet material deemed "harmful to children" as defined by "contemporary community standards."

It's unclear how many of the companies have cooperated with the subpoenas, or to what extent, but critics are already frowning upon them.

"That money could be spent so much more wisely on giving software away to parents that are having these problems," Dan Jude, president of Security Software Systems, told The Associated Press in reference to the case's litigation costs.

While the Justice Department insists that COPA will protect children online, those challenging the law -- which include sexual health websites, a gay newspaper and Salon.com -- argue that software filters are a more effective, and less restrictive, solution.

Sounds logical enough. But then again, since when did logic inform any Bush Administration policy?

• Feds subpoena ISPs , tech firms in child online protection case [First Amendment Center]
• Feds cast a wide net with subpoenas [SF Gate]
• Law to shelter kids online has new critics [MSNBC]
  
  Previously: Judge says Google must give up data; Google stands firm; Feds subpoena Google porn data