Let us not close down 99.9 percent of the Internet because of a few child pornographers. Go after them, but protect the Internet for the rest of the people.
Predictor: Leahy, Patrick
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 article published on his official Senate Web site, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) makes the following statement regarding censorship and freedom of speech on the Internet: ”The interests of the young children are not in the stifling of speech or Government overreaching. They will be served by the growth of the Internet, the development of the World Wide Web and the creative, economic and social opportunities that they can provide. And for those who want to abuse it, those who want to be involved in child pornography, we have laws on the books. We can go after those people. We can prosecute them. But let us not close down 99.9 percent of the Internet because of a few child pornographers. Go after them, but protect the Internet for the rest of the people.”
Biography:Patrick Leahy was a U.S. Senate member who played an important role in Congressional discussions of the Internet in the 1990s. (Legislator/Politician/Lawyer.)
Date of prediction: December 14, 1995
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Censorship/Free Speech
Name of publication: Press Release - Leahy Home Page
Title, headline, chapter name: The Role of Department of Justice and Internet Protest
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.senate.gov/~leahy/press/199512/951214.html
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Little, Brandi W.