Could social networks, weblogs, moblogs, vlogs be banned at schools, libraries?

A rather disturbing article on CNET News says a proposed Federal law would ban libraries and schools from allowing “social network” Web sites — including the possibility of Blogger, America Online and Yahoo instant messaging — to be accessed by minors using on the organizations’ computers.

CNET reports the Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican “and fellow Republicans, including House Speaker Dennis Hastert, on Wednesday endorsed new legislation that would cordon off access to commercial Web sites that let users create public ‘Web pages or profiles’ and also offer a discussion board, chat room, or e-mail service.

“That's a broad category that covers far more than social networking sites such as Friendster and Google's Orkut.com.  It would also sweep in a wide range of interactive Web sites and services including Blogger.com, AOL and Yahoo's instant messaging features, and Microsoft's Xbox 360, which permits in-game chat.”

Targeting conservative suburbanites

The proposed legislation, called the Deleting Online Predators Act,” comes out of a group of conservative Republicans calling themselves the Suburban Caucus.  The Deleting Online Predators Act is, apparently, just one of a collection of proposed legislation designed to appeal to suburban voters.

Other possible legislation includes tax incentives to encourage educational savings accounts, a national sex offenders database and plans to curb over development in the suburbs, notes an article in The Hill.

Well, I’m a suburbanite and the Caucus certainly does not appeal to me!

Target TypePad?

If the proposed legislation would ban Blogger, would it also ban TypePad –– the company that hosts my weblogs?  And what about all the moblogs and video weblogs on Internet hosting companies?

I assume this is relatively early in the process, but it’s important to keep a close watch of what’s going on.