Different Filters

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A study in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association finds that Internet filtering software, required in schools and libraries by federal law, can block substantial amounts of useful heath information along with pornography and other material considered inapproriate for minors. At their most restrictive settings, seven filtering programs blocked, on average, about a quarter of the health sites tested. At their least restrictive settings (rarely used in schools and libraries) the filters let through more than 98 percent of the health information. Hence these dueling headlines:

"Internet Filters Block Many Useful Sites, Study Finds"

The New York Times

"Study Finds Porn Filters Leave Health Web Sites Accessible"

The Washington Times