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Product Placement – full color ads – hot links

Normalization of Pornography Use

Normalization of Sex Work

Links to Escort Services and Adult Chat sites

Why is there Pornography in K12 School “Research Databases”?

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COLORADO

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Understanding Databases

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Loopholes in Obscenity Laws for Minors

  • Outdated obscenity exemptions for schools & libraries

  • Outdated internet filtering statutes that fail to account for modern “database” products

  • Dynamic versus static electronic encyclopedias obscene content may be removed by demanding vendor compliance, but then replaced with new content

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Federal Law

The distribution of obscene and harmful material to minors violates numerous state and federal statutes designed to protect children. Relevant federal statutes include:

 

18 U.S.C. § 1470, prohibits the knowing interstate transfer of obscene material to a minor under 16 years of age.

 

18 U.S.C. § 2252C, prohibits the knowing embedment of words or digital images into the source code of a website with the intent to deceive a minor into viewing harmful or obscene materials.

 

47 U.S.C. § 254, (h) Children’s Internet Protection Act (“CIPA”) requires schools to have a policy of internet safety to protect against access of visual depictions that are obscene, pornographic or harmful to minors in order to receive certain federal funding.

 

18 U.S.C. § 1961-1968, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) Act, defines “racketeering activity” to include “dealing in obscene matter”

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47 U.S.C. Section 254

Requires schools and libraries to have an Internet safety policy that includes technology protection measures that requires:

  • blocking or filtering Internet access to pictures that are:

(a) obscene

(b) child pornography, or

(c) harmful to minors

  • policy to monitor online activities of minors
  • safety and security of minors when using
  • electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications
  • prohibiting unauthorized access, including so-called “hacking,” and other unlawful activities by minors online
  • prohibiting unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors

Schools and libraries are required to certify that they have their safety policies and technology in place before receiving E-rate funding.

FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY

Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)

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THE 100 BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION:��� �…how do we get the Porn Industry out of our schools?

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“…we have undertaken changes creating algorithms to identify and eliminate clearly objectionable articles …”

“THIS SEEMS TO BE RAISING RED FLAGS ACROSS THE STATE THIS MORNING…”

“… we are increasing the level of scrutiny around how content is selected for databases and specifically those designed for use in K‐12 schools…”

“We take the need to provide age‐appropriate content seriously and appreciate the families and groups that have brought these issues to light relative to EBSCO, ProQuest and Cengage content available in school libraries…”

From EBSCO:

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Obtained through Freedom of Information:

Excerpt of letter to GALE from Colorado School administrator complaining about “questionable educational value” for school children…

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Several large school districts in Colorado discontinued

EBSCO – but they replaced it with GALE and ProQuest…

2018 - Lawsuit

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2019 - CENGAGE GALE Company admits in writing that it provided a database with “inappropriate” content to a K-12 school…

As of Jan/2021, the database is still advertised on GALE’s website for elementary, middle and high school

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THE PORN INDUSTRY: BRILLIANT MARKETING STRATEGIES

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  • Check your district and state for online database resources
  • Help your SCHOOL LEADERS to understand the harms of porn for minors
  • Find legislators who will sponsor bills to close obscenity loopholes
  • Social Media! News!

WHAT CAN WE DO??

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THE IRONY OF SCHOOL SUPPLIED PORNOGRAPHY

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Funding: State

  • Direct contracts

  • Cost share models through the state or consortiums

  • School Districts that partner with public libraries or direct students to public library resources

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Many states purchase and package Databases through a cost share model to public schools:

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Public Libraries: Targeting Minors with Obscenity

Watch Out Homeschoolers!

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Funding: Federal

  • Funds schools and libraries so they can purchase EBSCO and other databases

  • EBSCO advertises the IMLS on its website as a go-to for funding to purchase their products

Institute of Museum and Library Services

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Legislative Solutions

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For more information and resources:

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www.PornographyIsNotEducation.org

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