Answer :
Final answer:
The Communications Decency Act primarily deals with Internet content and online speech, aiming to protect minors from indecent materials. However, it was struck down by the Supreme Court for being unconstitutional as it imposed content-based restrictions on speech. This highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing online safety and freedom of expression.
Explanation:
The Communications Decency Act (CDA)
The Communications Decency Act (CDA), passed in 1996, primarily addresses issues related to Internet content and online speech. The CDA was created in an effort to protect children from being exposed to inappropriate material online, making it a federal crime to transmit or post obscene or indecent content intended for minors. However, this law faced widespread legal challenges, particularly from groups advocating for freedom of speech.
Key Aspects of the CDA
- The CDA sought to regulate the transmission of indecent materials over the Internet.
- It was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Reno v. ACLU (1997), which stated that the law imposed unacceptable content-based restrictions on speech.
- The ruling emphasized that the Internet should not be limited to material suitable for children, stating that “the level of discourse reaching a mailbox cannot be limited to that which would be suitable for a sandbox.”
As such, while the CDA was an attempt to shield minors from harmful content, its effectiveness and legality were fundamentally challenged due to concerns over freedom of expression and the broad application of what constitutes indecent material.
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