The man who gave us the "series of tubes" metaphor for the Internet now wants to take away MySpace, Wikipedia, and other social networking websites. Alaska Senator Ted Stevens's Senate Bill #49, introduced in January, would effectively ban any social networking website from public schools and libraries because of their potential to harbor online predators.

A similar bill was introduced by Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA) last year, and passed the House, but died in the Senate. The problem with Stevens's bill (apart from the hail mary attempt to censor content available at public libraries), is that its language is so general, nearly any website could fall under the ban. Critics are especially concerned that Wikipedia would be off limits.

But what I find most disconcerting is the bill's requirement that every website enforce "a policy of Internet safety for minors that prevents cyberbullying."

Sounds like we would have to shut down the FP Forum, for sure.