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Should Virginia Put Limits on the Internet?

Lawmakers in Richmond are exploring the limits of free speech. And, as Michael Pope reports, one member of the House of Delegates wants to put restrictions on the internet.

Devices that have access to the internet should be pre-blocked — preventing access to websites that promote child pornography or prostitution. If users wants access, they would need to pay $20, money that would go to the Virginia Prevention of Human Trafficking Fund. That’s the idea behind a bill introduced by Republican Delegate Dave LaRock of Loudoun.

“Human trafficking and child exploitation, I think, are some of the darkest activities that take place in our society. This goes to one of the few places where you can limit the internet.”

Limiting the internet? That’s a terrible idea, says Democratic Delegate Marcus Simon of Falls Church.

“If there’s criminal activity happening on a web page and it needs to be shut down, that’s a case-by-case basis for prosecutors and investigators to make. But it’s not something that we at the legislative level ought to be making value judgments about.”

LaRock says pornography is a public health crisis. Simon says lawmakers should not make decisions about what websites their constituents look at.

This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.

Michael Pope is an author and journalist who lives in Old Town Alexandria.