The prediction, in brief:

The potential fine [under the proposed Communications Decency Act] would put us out of business.

Predictor: Schuler, Doug

Prediction, in context:

In a 1995 article in The Seattle Times, reporter Paul Andrews shares reactions to the Communications Decency Act. Andrews writes:”Regardless of the interpretation, the bill could have visible effects. Doug Schuler, who helped found the Seattle Community Network, said the free online service serving 6,500 users would probably have to shut down under legal threat of the Decency Act. ‘The potential fine would put us out of business,’ he said. Critics of the indecency standard say Congress misunderstands how the Internet works. The standard is intended for broadcast radio and TV, where listeners may not have an opportunity to black out potentially offensive material before it reaches their eyes and ears. On the Internet, users must actively seek out sites with potentially offensive material.”

Date of prediction: December 1, 1995

Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues

Subtopic: Censorship/Free Speech

Name of publication: Seattle Times

Title, headline, chapter name: Will Censorship Muffle Internet?

Quote Type: Paraphrase

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=b2a7108a4ff67317508ab7004eee60cf&_docnum=1&wchp=dGLbVlz-lSlAl&_md5=7efcd28e70beb72b134999f8ca3aeb91

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney