Bradburn et al v. North Central Regional Library District

Filing 32

DECLARATION by Paul Resnick in Support re 28 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by North Central Regional Library District. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A, Pages 13-28, # 2 Exhibit Exhibits B & C, Pages 29-43, # 3 Exhibit Exhibits D & E, Pages 44-67)(Adams, Thomas)

Bradburn et al v. North Central Regional Library District

Doc. 32 Att. 2

Exhibit B
Decl of Resnick
Page 29

Dockets.Justia.com

_ MEDICINE AND THE MEDIA

Does Pornography-Blocking Software
Block Access to Health Information on the Internet?
Caroline R. Richardson, MD
Paul 1. Resnick, PhD

Derek L. Hansen, BS Holly A. Derry, MPH
Victoria 1. Rideout, MA

Context The Internet has become an important tool for finding health information, especially among adolescents. Many computers have software designed to block access to Internet pornography. Because pornography-blocking software cannot perfectly discriminate between pornographic and non

pornographic Web sites, such products may block access to health information sites, particularly those related to sexuality.

Objective To quantify the extent to which pornography-blocking software used in schools and libraries limits access to health information Web sites.
Design and Setting In a simulation of adolescent Internet searching, we compiled search results from 24 health information searches (n=3206) and 6 pornography searches (n = 781). We then classified the content of each site as either health information 1 004). We also compiled a list of top (n=2467), pornography (n=516), or other (n= teen health information sites (n=586). We then tested 6 blocking products commonly used in schools and libraries and 1 blocking product used on home computers, each at 2 or 3 levels of blocking restrictiveness.

portant tool for many individuTHE INTERNET HAS concerns, AN espeals with health BECOME i IM-

cially adolescents.2 Teenagers grapple with sensitive health issues, including depression, substance abuse, and birth
control. Concerns about confidential-

ity, accentuated by many teens not yet having their own health provider, make
adolescents' acces to information via the

Main Outcome Measure Rates of health information and pornography blocking.
Results At the least restrictive blocking setting, configured to block only pornography, the products blocked a mean of only 1.4% of health information sites. The dif-

Internet particularly important. Gėven rapidly expanding Internet access, it is
not surprising that more than 70% of 15-

ferences between blocking products was small (range, 0.6%-2.3 %). However, about 10% of health sites found using some search terms related to sexuality (eg, safe sex,
condoms) and homosexuality (eg, gay) were blocked. The mean pornography block-

to 17-year-olds say they have used the Internet to look up health information.3 Almost half have researched traditional health topics such as cancer or
diabetes. About 40% of adolescents have

ing rate was 87% (range, 84%-90%). At moderate settings, the mean blocking rate was 5% for health information and 90% for pornography. At the most restrictive settings, health information blocking increased substantially (24 %), but pornography block. ing was only slightly higher (91 %).
Conclusions Blocking settings have a greater impact than choice of blocking product on frequency of health information blocking. At their least restrictive settings, over. blocking of general health information poses a relatively minor impediment. However, searches on some terms related to sexuality led to substantially more health

searched for information on a sexual health topic such as pregnancy, birth
control, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or other sexually transmitted dis-

information blocking. More restrictive blocking configurations blocked pornography only slightly more, but substantially increased blocking of health information sites.

lAMA. 2002;288:2887-2894 www.jama.com
computers used by minors in order to be eligible for some forms of federal funding. While the ClPA requirement
Author Affilations: Department of Family Medicine,
University of Michigan Medical School, Yeterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Service (Dr Richardson), School of Information (Dr Resnick and Mr Hansen), and Health Media Research Laboratory (Ms Deny), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Menlo Park, Calif (Ms Rideout).

eases; I in 4 have researched problems
with drugs or alcohol; 17% have

for libraries was struck down by a cir-

searched for information on depression or mental ilness; and 11% have searched for information on sexual
assault.3

cuit court on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment,4 it is curCorresponding Author and Reprints: Caroline R. Richardson, MD, Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 1018 Fuller
St, Ann Arbor, M148109-0708 (e-mail: caroli~umich .edu).

In 2000, the US Congress passed the Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA) mandating that schools and libraries install pornography-blocking software on

Medicine and Media Section Editor: Annette Flanagin, RN, MA, Managing Senior Editor.

(D2Ą)02 American lvkdica! :\ssol.atiun. All righis ,",served.

(Reprinted) JAMA, December 11, 2002-Yol 288, No. 22 2887

Decl of Resnick
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