The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a United States federal law enacted in 2000 to address concerns about children’s access to inappropriate material on the internet. CIPA mandates that schools and libraries that receive certain federal funding or discounts for internet access or internal connections through the E-rate program must implement measures to protect minors from accessing obscene or harmful content online.
Here are the key provisions and requirements of CIPA:
- Internet Safety Policies: Schools and libraries subject to CIPA must adopt and enforce internet safety policies that include measures to block or filter internet access to obscene or harmful content. These policies must also address the safety and security of minors when using electronic communications.
- Technology Protection Measures: Institutions covered by CIPA are required to install and use technology protection measures, such as filtering software or hardware, to prevent minors from accessing visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors. These measures must be applied to all computers with internet access, including those used by adults.
- Education and Awareness Programs: CIPA mandates that schools and libraries educate minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with others on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response.
- Adult Use Override: While CIPA requires filtering of internet access for minors, it also provides for an adult use override. Adults may request the disabling of filtering for bona fide research or other lawful purposes. However, institutions must have policies and procedures in place to handle such requests and ensure compliance with CIPA’s requirements.
- Certification Requirements: Schools and libraries must certify compliance with CIPA in order to receive funding or discounts through the E-rate program. Failure to comply with CIPA can result in the loss of federal funding or discounts for internet access.
CIPA aims to protect children from exposure to harmful online content while promoting access to valuable educational resources on the internet. However, it has also been the subject of debate and criticism, particularly regarding issues of overblocking legitimate educational content and potential limitations on intellectual freedom and access to information.