Computer Laws | EssayIvy.com

Running head: COMPUTER LAWS

Computer Laws

Name

Institution

COMPUTER LAWS

Computer Laws

Computer laws usually exist in the form of drafts for the sole reason of covering the

various types of the differentiated computer crimes which get perpetrated. Therefore, computer

experts are obliged to unleash the exploitable technological voids subject to legal breach.

Meanwhile, existing laws, as well as the newly formulated laws, always get considered handy in

charging individuals bound to computer crimes. One of the stringent computer laws created

initially as a sound approach to combat computer crimes is the CIPA law, an Act dealing with

protecting children who get to access the internet.

CIPA, that is, the Children’s Internet Protection Act had to face legal creation to ensure

that schools, as well as libraries, filter most of the malicious electronic content which children

may intercept. CIPA’s objectives pay strict attention hence giving assurance that minors would

not get exposed directly to indecent online information. The guidelines by CIPA require all

schools as well as libraries to consider its operative cannons (Easttom & Taylor, 2010). Such an

approach would then act as a conduit which enables learning institutions to acquire discounts,

especially from the E-rate programs. The merit bound to such codes is that libraries and schools

receive markdown purchases relating to internet services as well as computing systems. Schools

and libraries are legally obliged to patronize the lucrative benefits attached to the CIPA program.

Meanwhile, the enacted safety internet policy, along with measures concerning technology

protection overly ensures the blockage of malicious content.

According to CIPA, minors require an appropriate formal education which considers

online etiquette and cyberbullying awareness. Besides, intermingling amicably within most of

the social platforms is an online priority. Therefore, through CIPA’s considerations, proofs

COMPUTER LAWS

bound to adverse reactions sometimes point fingers on how the legal system may overly become

harmful. Initially, several reports indicated how the particular features which get to block some

of the harmful content might particularly lead to extensive damages other that fostering

positivism (Easttom & Taylor, 2010). Filters usually under-block or even over-block some

content deemed significant. Again, through research, CIPA got indicated as a channel which

disproportionately influenced students already disadvantaged technologically. Students with a

monopoly over filters while accessing the World Wide Web do have some merits as compared to

those who get to access the filtered internet at school. Content filtering is overly significant in

influencing students’ learning.

Penalties

Individuals discovered to have violated the legal considerations as prescribed may easily

lose funding subject to the E-rate (Carvin, A., 2000). They could also get forced to repay some of

the discount allotted towards them. According to one of the critical case laws, petitions had to get

filed regarding computer laws. The Commission by the Federal Communications, with Verizon

New Jersey and the Integrated Corp of Verizon Network had a similar petition regarding

computer laws. In Denville, the Morris Catholic School as well as the Queen of Peace School,

situated in North Arlington had obtained a discounted access to the internet via a program called

the E-rate. The noted schools had claimed about their adherence to the CIPA codes. Morrison

Catholic School, having been found not compliant with the CIPA cannons, the school was

obliged to reverse amounts over five hundred dollars which they got reimbursed initially. CIPA

had discovered that the Morrison Catholic School had violated its compliance and therefore, the

school had to repay the damages.

COMPUTER LAWS

Legal Effectiveness

Children require protection from illicit content. Meanwhile, CIPA, being an institution,

CIPA received the view of having a negative influence. According to CIPA, it is not a

requirement for libraries to block specific sites because of their non-academic related content

which they offer (Oder, N., 2003). Some libraries do not hinder its users from accessing online

information containing general nonacademic materials hence allowing the need to obtain an

insightful form of knowledge which may not get considered scholarly. Sometimes, the laws can

get misinterpreted as it receives the view where censorship is final hence making some of the

contents which should not get blocked to become blocked. Such an approach creates appropriate

guidelines which need attention from CIPA.

Law Ratification

Changing the blocked type of content as per CIPA’s compliance might ultimately unveil

information to minor scholars who entirely rely on the school’s resources to finalize research,

projects as well as other educational programs. The blocking of more electronic content leads to

the final lock of the already set filters. Users then become more restricted. Such similar

restrictions also apply to the minimal content which the concerned institutions intercept

electronically. Therefore, implementing a suitable way which explicitly puts a blockade on most

of the malicious sites is the way to go. Meanwhile, CIPA revealed clearly about its intention

bound to targeting images for blocking. However, the filters imposed could block entire useful

words and suitable sites. The law amendment against blockading anything apart from what

should get filtered does not comply with the concerned legal considerations. Laws by CIPA

usually adhere legally with what needs to get screened hence minimizing any form of non-

COMPUTER LAWS

compliance. Because of such initiated considerations, students get to acquire all the necessary as

well as the required content.

Challenges

One of the extreme difficulties straining CIPA concerns most schools which get to filter

useful electronic content. It is explicitly tricky to sieve specific materials. Filters, according to

their nature, cannot sort content as required by the internet moderators; valuable content from the

internet gets blocked instead (Oder, N., 2003). Therefore, making a sound distinction is a

pertinent concern which filters cannot consider overly. Filters usually operate under the influence

of a generalized form of instructions to block electronic materials as instructed.

Meanwhile, from one of its initial court trials, CIPA had to face legal wrath for not being

procedural; the body had created a legal void. Hence, during the noted hearing, the American

Library Association, that is, ALA filed a petition against CIPA. ALA defended its essential body

through legal means by claiming that the internet should not get utilized as a tool bound to

filtering scholarly works. Internet became branded a public forum. However, the Supreme Court

had mixed reactions (Library Research Service, 2014). The court gave sound approaches on how

to moderate electronic content, a fact which CIPA could not consider. Therefore, it would have

been overly significant to note the malicious online materials for filtration.

Conclusion

Laws exist purposefully. Hence, the consideration of CIPA’s regulatory guidelines

focuses on protecting schools and children from intercepting harmful content while surfing

online. Besides, the discounts which benefit learning institution, as well as libraries due to its

massive benefits flowing from the E-rate, require schools under its umbrella to adhere to CIPA’s

COMPUTER LAWS

regulatory cannons. Overly, CIPA typically gives focus on the electronic content accessed by

minors. However, CIPA usually faces persistent challenges while enforcing its guidelines. Some

of the difficulties are sometimes challenging to address.

COMPUTER LAWS

References

Carvin, A. (2000). The E-Rate in America: A Tale of Four Cities.

Easttom, C., & Taylor, J. (2010). Computer crime, investigation, and the law. Boston, MA:

Course Technology, a part of Cengage Learning.

Library Research Service (November 5, 2014). ALA report on the impact of CIPA discovers that

the filtration of software influences students negatively. Retrieved on January 25, 2018

from https://www.lrs.org/2014/11/05/ala-cipa/

Oder, N. (2003). Supreme Court justices appear highly divided in CIPA case. Library

Journal, 128(6), 16-16.

Place new order. It's free, fast and safe

Paper type

Deadline

Page count

550 words

Total price: $ 15.00

Our customers say

Jeff Curtis

USA, Student

"I'm fully satisfied with the essay I've just received. When I read it, I felt like it was exactly what I wanted to say, but couldn’t find the necessary words. Thank you!"

Ian McGregor

UK, Student

"I don’t know what I would do without your assistance! With your help, I met my deadline just in time and the work was very professional. I will be back in several days with another assignment!"

Shannon Williams

Canada, Student

"It was the perfect experience! I enjoyed working with my writer, he delivered my work on time and followed all the guidelines about the referencing and contents."