U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's understanding of how First Amendment free speech rights apply online has come into question after various sources have posted his call for "regulation" of Internet content.

In the wake of 1999's school shooting massacre in Columbine, Colo., Holder told CBS that the court system ought to look at regulating Internet speech, since the two boys who executed the massacre learned how to build bombs online.

His comments were reported on the May 28, 1999, edition of National Public Radio's Morning Edition:

(Story continues below)

"The court has really struck down every government effort to try to regulate it," Holder said regarding Internet content. "We tried with regard to pornography. It is going to be a difficult thing, but it seems to me that if we can come up with reasonable restrictions, reasonable regulations in how people interact on the Internet, that is something that the Supreme Court and the courts ought to favorably look at."

Holder has a history from the late '90s of advocating government policing of Internet content, particularly in the areas of pornography and obscenity.

In 1998, while serving as deputy attorney general under President Clinton, Holder issued a memo to U.S. attorneys calling for prosecution of online obscenity.

"Because of the nature of the Internet and availability of agents trained in conducting criminal investigations in cyberspace," Holder wrote, "investigation and prosecution of Internet obscenity is particularly suitable to federal resources."

According to a Time report, Holder's memo emphasized that no website was too insignificant to investigate.

"Prosecution of cases involving relatively small distributors," Holder wrote, "can have a deterrent effect."

 

---

Related offers:

Sign WND's petition to oppose the "Fairness Doctrine" now!

THE YEAR THE MEDIA DIED: How 2008 presidential election demolished credibility of 'mainstream' press

THE WAR ON TALK RADIO

'Stop the Presses!' Farah's new book exposes newsroom radicals, Google, more

Borders, language, and culture! Get Michael Savage's 'The Savage Nation' at reduced price

Glenn Beck's 'Real America': Broadcaster rails against many of the forces keeping us from our potential

 

---

Previous stories:

Savage goes on offense in 'Fairness Doctrine' battle

Litigation strategy prepared to battle 'Fairness Doctrine'

'A little state control wouldn't hurt anybody'

Bill Clinton joins drumbeat for 'Fairness Doctrine'

Senate support builds for 'Fairness Doctrine'

News bailouts threaten freedom of press

Another senator lines up behind 'Fairness Doctrine'

'Fairness' fan's husband makes money in 'libtalk'

Is there sinister plot to squelch talk radio?

Oppose 'un-American' speech limits!

White House plan puts bull's-eye on talk shows

Obama radio critic finds talk show time slashed

Obama to appoint talk radio's executioner?

'Fairness Doctrine' rejected 'absolutely'

Hushing Rush and Hannity sounds great to Obama fans

Limbaugh fights 'Hush Rush' push

Nearly half of Americans favor 'Fairness Doctrine'

Bush opposes 'Fairness Doctrine'

President won't join 'Bash Rush' campaign

Rush to Sen. Reid: 'Say it to my face'

'Hush Rush' supporters draw 'no comment'

Bush no fan of Fairness Doctrine

'Hush Rush' bill - gone, not forgotten

Voinovich self-destructs on Hannity

Kerry joins Fairness Doctrine chorus

Democrats hope to hush Rush

Claim: Hillary, Boxer look to 'fix' talk radio

Sean Hannity inspires character in kids' book

Florida county surrenders to Rush Limbaugh fans

'It's not just Imus,' warn talk-radio headhunters