Censorware is the subject an on-going legal battle. I say "battle", despite the variety of suits and legislation, because it really is one major battle, though it looks like many minor ones. One battle over what people will be permitted to see and access. Government promotion of censorware is akin to banning books, but somehow the use of a software intermediary deflects some of the criticism that would normally accrue to such an action.

Imagine, for a moment, that the government promulgated a law which banned from all public libraries and schools any book written by the Quakers. And information about local soccer teams. And information about Nike shoes. And information about gay/lesbian issues. And information about pet grooming. And information about biochemistry. And the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A little crazy? A little unconstitutional?

Why, then, is the government promoting censorware which bans all these and more? Why are government agencies such as public libraries censoring their patrons in such a manner?

This section will concentrate on efforts in the U.S.A. to resist legislators trying to win re-election by taking away the right to read freely, as well as a couple of important lawsuits which involve the use of censorware in public institutions. The ACLU's page at http://www.aclu.org/issues/cyber/hmcl.html has details of their legal efforts, which include censorware cases. Please help us expand our information about the current situation in other countries as well - if you have information to share or a link we should add, please contact us. For a very good roundup of state-by-state legislation, see Library Journal Digital.

• Loudoun, VA
• Livermore, CA