Bill would block porn from federal networks

The House passed an amendment last week that would bar agencies from investing in computer networks that don't automatically block pornography websites.

On July 1 the House added the amendment to a supplemental spending bill funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, among other things. The amendment states, "None of the funds made available in this act may be used to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading and exchanging of pornography."

The bill comes on the heels of an inspector general's report in April that found dozens of Securities and Exchange Commission employees used government computers to access and download pornography. Some employees admitted to spending hours surfing explicit sites at work while the agency tackled the crisis in the financial markets, drawing the derision of lawmakers and members of the public. Eight SEC employees resigned, six were suspended up to two weeks and five contractors were removed from their contracts as a result.

An aide told Nextgov the amendment is aimed at curbing such abuses. Cybersecurity experts generally praised the provision, but warned against prescribing exactly how agencies should block explicit Web content. The bill will now head back to the Senate for approval.