Commercial Filtering Programs Block Health Sites
Date: Wednesday, December 11 @ 11:51:10 EST
Topic: Free Expression


Both the Washington Post and New York Times (reg. req.) report on a new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation discussing how filtering engines block valid health information along with materials unsuitable for children (Study: Web Filters Block Health Information) and (Internet Filters Block Many Useful Sites, Study Finds).

The study home page is here (See No Evil: How Internet Filters Affect the Search for Online Health Information). Read the press release (New study published in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) [PDF]), the Executive Summary (KFF Study: Executive Summary [PDF]), and the blocked sites list (KFF Study: Blocked Sites List [PDF]).

The study determined that on the least restrictive settings, filtering engines block a small, but significant percentage of sites providing health information. On their most restrictive settings, which is generally how filtering systems are set up by many schools and libraries, a tremendous number (nearly 1/4) of valid health sites are mistakenly blocked. What the study proves is that closed, proprietary filtering is simply not a good option for public schools and libraries. If you are going to filter, the system must be transparent so such errors do not occur or can be noted by watchdogs.

As usual, filtering expert Seth Finkelstein has more on this topic on his Infothought blog (SmartFilter stupidity - health sites as SEX).







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