While civil liberties and industry groups have hailed the ruling in an internet censorship case, the supporters of the anti-porn law may already be mounting a counter attack. Judge Lowell A. Reed, who on Monday February 1 ruled the Child Online Protection Act (COPA) unconstitutional (CI No 3,589), has agreed with the plaintiffs that technology, not censorship, is the best way to keep inappropriate web content out of the hands of minors. A full trial on whether or not COPA violates the First Amendment is expected later this spring, but Monday’s ruling could be appealed immediately. Experts on both sides of the case say it is likely to reach the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and eventually, the Supreme Court.
