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Online news producers oppose site-content ratings

internet ratings graphic

White House wants possible objectionable material flagged

August 29, 1997
Web posted at: 3:05 p.m. EDT (1905 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Online news producers, including CNN Interactive, are refusing a White House request to adopt a rating system to alert computer users of possibly objectionable content.

The Clinton administration has been pushing the industry to adopt a voluntary plan to combat indecency on the Internet. The White House request followed a June ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that overturned the 1996 Communications Decency Act. The justices ruled unanimously that the CDA improperly restricted the free-speech rights of adults.

But news organizations worry that Internet ratings could keep people from viewing their Web sites, because stories routinely contain news items about violence and sex.

"There's a big difference between the aftermath of violence in the Mideast and graphic violence for the purpose of entertainment," said CNN Interactive Editor in Chief Scott Woelfel.

Woelfel was among representatives from about 25 news organizations attending an Internet Content Coalition (ICC) meeting in New York on Thursday. Members of the trade group, which includes Playboy and other non-news Web publishers, agreed in a voice vote against establishing Internet ratings.

Under one proposal, Web publishers would use hypertext code to identify pages on their sites containing sex, violence, nudity and adult language. The technology, which is a feature on some browsers, would let computer users filter out objectionable sites.

In addition to CNN Interactive, other members of the ICC include Time Inc., The Associated Press, The New York Times, ABC News, Reuters New Media, Business Week, the Houston Chronicle, the Magazine Publishers of America, the Newspaper Association of America, ABC News and MSNBC.

 
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