The Commission on Child Online Protection (COPA Commission) has issued a report to Congress recommending that public schools and libraries should not be forced to install mandatory Internet filters on their computers at their own cost, but instead be encouraged to voluntarily use these porn-blocking tools, Reuters news service reports.

The "Final Report of the COPA Commission" recommends voluntary compliance based on possible First Amendment and privacy violations that could occur with mandatory use of these filters, the news service reports.

A bill introduced by Republican leaders would require public schools and libraries receiving e-rate subsidies for Internet access to buy Web filtering software or risk losing their funds.

The commission advised that parents should remain the primary decision-makers as to what material their children should not view.

Congress has twice passed laws intended to keep Internet pornography away from children. Both attempts have been rejected by the courts based on constitutional issues, specifically privacy and free speech rights, Reuters reports.

The current legislation is opposed by a wide range of free-speech, technology-advocacy and civil-libertarian organizations. Critics also point out that software bugs and site selection decisions made by filter programmers can allow access to some porn sites while blocking non-porn sites dealing with sexuality, sexual health, and other issues including politics and community activism.

Congress may vote on the Internet filter requirement this week.

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