VIRGINIA:  ONLINE PORN RULING LAUDED AND CONDEMNED

A Virginia federal judge's decision to block a state law designed to protect children from viewing harmful material on the Internet is being applauded by civil liberties groups and Internet businesses.  A temporary injunction was issued Wednesday to stop Virginia from enforcing a law that makes it a crime to use the Net to distribute sexually explicit material.  US District Court Judge James Michael said the 1999 law violates the First Amendment rights of Internet users and providers.  By prohibiting all such communications that juveniles could possibly examine or peruse, the act necessarily eliminates access for all adults as well, he wrote in his 31 page opinion.  Free speech advocates and Internet companies, which filed suit against the state, said the law would have imposed sever restrictions on Internet content and criminalized constitutionally protected information.

(Washington)