I read the executive summary, and was fascinated on the differing rates at which certain health web sites were filtered. Breast cancer, that favorite example of useful information that is filtered proffered by the anti-filter crew, had the lowest rate of being “accidentally” filtered in its category. Perhaps even because it had been a favorite example. Jock itch and yeast infections were filtered at a much higher rate. Among the highest rate of non-sex-education related health topics that were filtered? Breast pumps. Insert your own joke here.

In the category of actual health information with some sexual content, but not qualifying as pornography, that was most filtered: information on gay health. Unfortunately, most people are under the impression that the filters used in schools and libraries filter only pornography, and only what your average mostly rational person would consider pornographic. In truth, the vast majority of filters use a much broader brush, including many “controversial” topics that don’t directly involve naked cavorting. This means that even if these filters get better at what they are supposed to do, this will still result in children and teenagers being kept from information they need on sexual orientation, among other things