GetParentalControls.org

Last December, I wrote about how airlines are grappling with the viewing of inappropriate Internet content on airplanes.  Here’s an update from Fox News, “In-Flight Internet Service Comes With New Porn Monitors: Flight Attendants:”

Last week American Airlines became the first to offer unfiltered in-flight Internet access to passengers. Other airlines, including Delta, Alaska and Northwest, will soon roll out non-restrictive services as well. JetBlue Airways, which already offers free Wi-Fi service in terminals, has chosen to filter some Internet content, and Continental Airlines also plans to provide a service with similar restrictions.

“American has [a] clear code of conduct with passengers. If people are viewing pornography, being the best example, it is something American is empowering flight attendants to deal with.” But Sara Nelson of United Airlines’ union, Association of Flight Attendants-Communications Workers of America, said compelling attendants to be the in-flight moral police creates a big problem. “Flight attendants are already over-taxed,” she said. “There is no way we can take on any additional responsibility here.” Jones said the union is currently discussing ways to handle this situation. “We have a lot of concerns,” she said. 

One  concern this article doesn’t address is the very real possibility that forcing female flight attendants to be the porn police can create a hostile work environment.  There is a well-known case, Adamson v. Minneapolis Public Library where a group of librarians who were subjected to porn-viewing library patrons won a $435,000 judgment.  I  have the full complaint from the librarians here, which is not reading for the faint of heart.  FYI, my legal reference page has every major legal document associated with all US filtering-related cases.

–David Burt