What? Huh? Illinois Bill to Ban Social Software (Updated)

I can’t believe this… I hope the Illinois Library Association rallies around this to oppose it! Illinois librarians — are you listening? I hope we get a statement soon from the ILA and Illinois State Library!
(Emphasis mine)

ILA Update # 1
NEWS RELEASE — For immediate release
Saturday, 10 February 2007

Latest Developments
Yesterday, Senator Matt Murphy (R-27, Palatine) filed Senate Bill
(SB) 1682, only minutes before the bill introduction deadline in the
Illinois Senate. The summary is below:

Senate Bill 1682
Creates the Social Networking Web site Prohibition Act. Provides
that each public library must prohibit access to social networking
Web sites on all computers made available to the public in the
library.
Provides that each public school must prohibit access to
social networking Web sites on all computers made available to
students in the school. Provides for enforcement by the Attorney
General or a citizen. Amends the State Mandates Act to require
implementation without reimbursement. Effective January 1, 2008.

Update: This post was picked up at Slashdot: http://politics.slashdot.org/politics/07/02/14/0226222.shtml and it includes a link to the full text of the bill:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=51&GA=95&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=1682&GAID=9&LegID=29749&SpecSess=&Session=

I can’t believe the blanket prohibition here: (pardon the #s)

Section 10. Prohibition. Each public library must prohibit
1 access to social networking websites on all computers made
2 available to the public in the library. Each school must
3 prohibit access to social networking websites on all computers
4 made available to students in the school.

5 Section 15. Enforcement. If a public library or school
6 fails to comply with Section 10 of this Act, the Attorney
7 General or a citizen of this State is authorized to seek
8 enforcement as provided in this Section. The Attorney General
9 or a citizen shall first mail to the applicable administrative
10 unit or school board a notice of intended civil action for
11 enforcement that shall identify each public library or school
12 location at which a violation is alleged to have occurred and
13 shall specify the facts and circumstances of the alleged
14 violation of Section 10.

So, Illinois librarians – it’s time to act. Call your representatives. Call the State Library.