People express themselves through films, literature, and music everyday. Should their views be subject to censorship? There is no need to censor books as long as there are rules, laws, or other protections place to limit exposure to minors or those who feel the content may be inappropriate. Movies use a rating system based on the content of the film, access to websites are controlled and music stores inform you of explicit lyrics. Some literature, likeThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, contains profanity or other inappropriate material which does not provide this protection. Using effective protections may give readers a choice rather than eliminating the book all together. Censorship of movies has been controversial since
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Most online expression is protected by the First Amendment, although there are laws that govern some content like pornography. In the court case Bank Julius Baer vs. WikiLeaks, Bank Julius Baer was suing WikiLeaks because WikiLeaks website contained a document that includes private bank data which could cause harm to the bank and its clients. The court ruled the website to be shut down. The court was promptly accused of censorship by the public and media. The judge later “reversed his February 15 order after hearing arguments by attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union and other free/speech groups that his decision amounted to unconstitutional prior restraint,”(2). This reversed ruling allowed the website to avoid censorship. However, many public institutions like schools and libraries and content providers are allowed to block webpages that feel it is inappropriate or violates their own policies.Likewise book stores have the right to choose whether they sell a book or not, but there will always be businesses available to offer the book of your choice. Censorship is not necessary - books and websites should be freely published as long as protections are in place to protect minors. When music is sold online or at retail stores it contains a rating label similar to movies. “The Recording Industry Association of America, which represents the majority of record labels in the country, has posted a black-and-white logo, warning of explicit content, on album covers since 1985,”(1). Some retailers refuse to sell albums containing the sticker or choose to limit the sale to adults. This system can be used on books too. Like music, books could be sold with a label advising the consumer that the book contains inappropriate content for
Most online expression is protected by the First Amendment, although there are laws that govern some content like pornography. In the court case Bank Julius Baer vs. WikiLeaks, Bank Julius Baer was suing WikiLeaks because WikiLeaks website contained a document that includes private bank data which could cause harm to the bank and its clients. The court ruled the website to be shut down. The court was promptly accused of censorship by the public and media. The judge later “reversed his February 15 order after hearing arguments by attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union and other free/speech groups that his decision amounted to unconstitutional prior restraint,”(2). This reversed ruling allowed the website to avoid censorship. However, many public institutions like schools and libraries and content providers are allowed to block webpages that feel it is inappropriate or violates their own policies.Likewise book stores have the right to choose whether they sell a book or not, but there will always be businesses available to offer the book of your choice. Censorship is not necessary - books and websites should be freely published as long as protections are in place to protect minors. When music is sold online or at retail stores it contains a rating label similar to movies. “The Recording Industry Association of America, which represents the majority of record labels in the country, has posted a black-and-white logo, warning of explicit content, on album covers since 1985,”(1). Some retailers refuse to sell albums containing the sticker or choose to limit the sale to adults. This system can be used on books too. Like music, books could be sold with a label advising the consumer that the book contains inappropriate content for