A federal judge has ruled that a 1998 law designed to keep Internet pornography away from children infringes on free-speech rights.
In yesterday's ruling, the judge blocked enforcement of the Child Online Protection Act. That was Congress' second attempt to protect children from online porn.
U-S District Judge Lowell Reed Junior writes that the law, which has never been enforced, is unconstitutionally vague. He also says it fails to address current concerns about online predators, social networking sites and chat rooms.
The law would criminalize Web sites that allow children to access material deemed (quote) "harmful to minors."
Sexual health sites, Salon-dot-com and other Web publishers challenged the law on grounds it would have a chilling effect on speech.
The Justice Department is still reviewing what its next step will be.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)