OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state Supreme Court has ruled that public libraries can use Internet filters to block content.
In a 6-3 ruling Thursday, the court says that public libraries have discretion about which Internet content to allow, just as they decide which magazines and books to offer.
The majority says libraries don’t need to completely remove Internet filters and can provide access to websites containing constitutionally protected speech if requested by an adult.
But a blistering dissent by Justice Tom Chambers argues that the ruling restricts constitutionally protected speech.
