The Communications Decency Act, or CDA, was signed into law by President Clinton in 1996. The CDA allowed for fines and prison terms for transmitting "indecent" or "obscene" material online. The American Civil Liberties Union, along with other civil rights and business groups, immediately challenged the law, and the case began to make its way through the courts. Pro-CDA forces argued that the law was necessary to protect children from pornographic or other harmful material. CDA critics said that the law was too restrictive, and would inhibit free speech on the Internet. On June 26, 1997, the Supreme Court declared by unanimous vote that the CDA was in violation of the First Amendment right to free speech. However, the debate on how to strike a balance between "decency" and free speech on the Net continues. The Communications Decency Act: A General Overview - an overview of the law and the arguments surrounding it. CDA dead--permanently - an article on the C|NET news network, describing the approval of a permanent injunction against the CDA by three judges in Philadelphia. Citizens Internet Empowerment Coalition - "Internet users, library groups, publishers, online service providers, and civil liberties groups fighting for the future of the First Amendment and the future of free expression in the Information age." Electronic Privacy Information Center - a source for, among other things, recent news, background information, and legal updates on the CDA and free speech debate. The Battle Over the CDA - a special news section from CNN, covering in detail the CDA and the ongoing debate over decency and free speech on the Internet.