Dear Representative Eshoo,
I wish to express my disappointment with your vote -- and the House's vote in general -- in support of the so-called "Deleting Online Predators Act" (DOPA). This act, while obviously well-meaning, will not address the underlying problem it seeks to solve and will, in fact, be harmful to minors.
DOPA's solution to the problem of sexual predators is to prevent minors from socializing online at all. The bill is the internet equivalent of banning minors from visiting parks, playgrounds, beaches, or recreation centers because there may be sexual predators there. Would you support a law which banned children from visiting parks?
Sexual predators are a problem, but they are NOT a problem so large as to merit prohibiting communication on the internet.
I have a better solution: Education. Instead of trying to keep kids off the internet, teach kids how to use the internet safely. Just as we tell kids not to talk to strangers, we should tell them not to talk to strangers on the internet. In fact, every public school in the United States should have classes dedicated to teaching kids how to use the internet.
With proper education, children will be protected from online pedophiles whether they access the internet from school, a library, their home, or their friend's house, while still being able to access all the good the internet has to offer.
Sincerely,
Kenton Varda