Should the Internet Be Restricted By V-chips?

In Chapter 9 of his book, Republic.com 2.0, Cass R Sunstein mentions the V-chip technology that was introduced to America after the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The V-chip is intended to block inappropriate programming for children on home television sets. With the technology, parents can set a level of acceptable viewing for their children and the V-chip decides whether that program is over that level or not based on ratings of sex, violence and language.

However, it is only television sets that have been sold since 2000 that are required to have the V-chip installed. Therefore, there are several families that don't have access to the technology because they haven't bought a new TV since 2000. Furthermore, many parents who have bought a new set do not realize it has a V-chip and so do not use it.

The V-chip has shown some success, however, in homes that utilize it and the debate now is whether computers and the Internet should be installed with the same kind of technology. Sunstein argues that computers shouldn't have the V-chip because websites have such a large "range and diversity" so the technology wouldn't "make sense". However, there has been some governmental push to initiate the V-chip in technologies other than the television. For example, in 2007, Mitt Romney proposed V-chips for Internet to stop children from stumbling upon pornography sites. However, as the blogger notes, this would be a very difficult task because the Internet is so big and democratic, and it seems that Romney's request comes from the fear and cluelessness about the Internet from the GOP.

It is clear that the concept of the V-chip could be affective for the Internet because there needs to be some form of restriction for parents and their children online. However, I think that this goes against the basic structure of the Internet, specifically in the US, where information is free, democratic and interactive on the Internet.