MONTPELIER, Vt.—Vermont’s commissioner of Innovation and Information has a problem—namely, the state’s lack of innovation, which has led to too much information of the porn sort. After having to deal with a few state employees viewing or downloading porn while at work, Commissioner David Tucker said he plans to spend $120,000 to purchase filtering software.
Apparently, it has been several years since the state upgraded most of its networks to include the ability to filter content. The state Department of Corrections has such a system, but Tucker said it is outdated and needs to be replaced. Funds were approved by the state legislature earlier this year.
According to TimesArgus.com, “The money will go to purchase the software and expertise of a company called M86, a company that has offices in California, the United Kingdom and Israel. Its website bills itself as [the] largest provider of Secure Web Gateways and the largest independent provider of web and e-mail content security in the world.’”
Some Vermont legislators are concerned the filters may impede some official business, however. Sen. Richard Sears (D-Bennington) expressed his concern that the filters will prevent the state attorney general from conducting investigative research in preparation for cases.
"I think we should have a legislative discussion about this," he said.
Tucker responded that there will be appropriate restrictions built into the process.
The filters, which will be installed in all computers used as part of Vermont's executive branch of government, should be in place later this year.
