Comments on: IL2009: Trying Not to Filter: Internet Filtering Technologies Update

By: internet filter

internet filter — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 14:04:42 +0000

Internet filtering is important but only for kids I think now MPB is doing that.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:18:54 +0000

We did not take a look at CIPAFilter. I have heard some pretty bad things about it, though. But without substantiation, I don’t feel I can make a judgment on it. All filtering companies fail to tell you which sites are on their blacklists and how they get there (what their standards are). It’s a “company secret” but basically the way they get the sites is through basic Google searches, and automated cataloging of content. That is inappropriate in a library environment where information is life, information is what we deal in. Trusting the blocking or unblocking of content to a computer, or at best to a low-paid intern at the company, is not appropriate for information professionals. This, along with the fact that the technology simply doesn’t work, is why I rail so strongly against filters in any format. It’s wrong. Period. And for librarians not to speak out against it constantly is also wrong.

By: Lesley Williams

Lesley Williams — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:54:01 +0000

Hi Sara,

Did you look at CipaFilter? Any comparison stats? One of the things that most bothers me is filters which don’t tell you when a site has been blocked; you just get a “site unavailable” message. We filter only about half our stations and patrons can choose which to use. Our biggest problem is with MySpace pages being blocked.