In May, we noted the introduction of the Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA), which wouldamong other thingsrequire schools and public libraries to bar children from accessing social networking sites like MySpace. Despite widespread concerns about the Act, the US House of Representatives passed it by a 410-15 vote on Thursday.

When Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the legislation, he said it was necessary because social networking sites like MySpace were "feeding grounds for child predators that use these sites as just another way to do our children harm." Recent, high-profile stories such as teen girls being allegedly raped by men they met on MySpace provided ammunition for Rep. Fitzpatrick and the bill's other supporters, leading to its easy passage in the House.

DOPA attempts to deal with online predation by requiring schools and public libraries to bar access to "commercial social networking websites" and "chat rooms." However, the bill's definition of what constitutes such sites is such that the list of sites that could be blocked is extremely broad. Here's how DOPA defines social networking sites:

(i) is offered by a commercial entity;

(ii) permits registered users to create an on-line profile that includes detailed personal information;

(iii) permits registered users to create an on-line journal and share such a journal with other users;

(iv) elicits highly-personalized information from users; and

(v) enables communication among users.'.

Congratulations, Congress! You've just potentially barred everyone from using Amazon.com (not to mention the Ars OpenForum) at schools and libraries. The Federal Communications Commission will be tasked with the unenviable job of deciding which sites are harmless and which are presumably rife with online predators and should be blocked.

Aside from the potential to block sites that fall under DOPA's overly-broad definition, the bill suffers one other glaring flaw. Schools and libraries are two important places where children can use the Internet under adult supervision. By deleting online access to these sites, kids that want to access MySpace and other, prohibited sites will have to do so on the sly, meaning that interactions with would-be predators may be less likely to be observed.

Some schools have gone so far as to try blocking MySpace themselves. In addition to leading to such well-thought-out responses from students like "THAT IS SO GAY!", students have been busy circumventing the filters with a surprising degree of success.

Now that DOPA has passed the House, it goes to the Senate for consideration. Its passage through the House was surprisingly swift, and caught many of the bill's opponents off guard. It's always popular for legislators to Think Of The Children, and it is an election year, so DOPA may get fast-tracked through the Senate as well. Contact your senators and let them know what you think about DOPA and how it won't solve the problems it attempts to address.