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Legal Concerns The rise of Internet-based services and information forums give rise to many legal concerns that are subject to debate. The First Amendment, in the censoring of sexually explicit information on the Internet, is perhaps at the forefront of this debate. In the book titled The Internet and the First Amendment, by Fred Cate, he specifically states, "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech or of the press." Thus we must examine constitutional concerns and how it relates to the regulation of sexually explicit expression.
     In the past, the Court has interpreted the First Amendment as a statement preventing the government from restricting information in newspapers, books, magazines etc. However, the question lies in whether this same application can be made to the Internet. The answer is yes and no. While government cannot ban all sexually explicit material from the Internet, it certainly can pass legislation to help protect the rights of children in terms of their accessibility to this type of information.
     An example of this type of legislation would be the Communications Decency Act, passed in by the Senate in 1995. The Act made anyone liable who knowingly sends or displays offensive communication to a minor, and to anyone who knowingly permits communication facility under his/her control to be used for such activity. This act alone came to face with many inspections and revisions by legislators, judges and members of the Senate, until the Court found that it was either impossible or very costly for Internet providers to comply with the requirements of the CDA.

Children's On-line Privacy Protection Act--
The Children's On-line Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is also another form of legislation used to protect youngsters in cyberspace. However, according to research, this does not satisfy the need to protect children on the Internet. COPPA applies to the operators to provide clear, notices about the type of information they collect from children, and to get "veritable parental consent" before using information.
     The problem with these so-called rules and mandatory regulations to obtain parental consent are set up as a 4,673-word privacy policy that is difficult reading material for both parents and children. According to research, Privacy policy is not enough in the end, and two additional elements are necessary: a policy must be protective, and a policy must be followed. COPPA represents the first attempt at meeting these requirements, but it is not enough.

UNESCO's Role in the Issue of Children and the Internet--
In addition to COPPA, a citizen's and Internet industry action group, known as UNESCO, is being formed to promote sage Internet navigation among children. The group most importantly helps to protect children from pedophiles on the Internet. These kinds of groups are incredibly important in the fight to protect children from pedophiles who can easily communicate through the Internet.
     UNESCO is especially important because it includes representatives from the media, the Internet and communications industry, educators, human rights groups, international law enforcement and the legal profession in an active effort to develop more effective methods of prevention against children's accessibility to sexually explicit material and their protection against pedophiles on the Internet.