Online censorship?

The White House made the right call by opposing key ingredients in congressional proposals to curb Internet piracy. The stance should go a long way to snuff out a misguided effort that undercuts the wide-open qualities of the online world.

This battle is no easy call. It pits Silicon Valley against Hollywood over control, responsibility and the legal abuses of the Internet. At issue is a pair of bills in the House and Senate that go after the online theft of copyright materials such as movies and music peddled on pirate websites. California Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein are sponsors of the Senate measure, though their support could shift. A possible upcoming vote would force each to choose between two high-profile home-state industries.

The tech world from small websites to big operators such as Google, Facebook and Twitter is up in arms over the nightstick buried in the proposals. In differing ways the two bills would allow copyright holders such as songwriters or filmmakers to go after Internet providers and payment networks, who have nothing to do with illegal pirating. Hollywood interests say this is the only way to stop the illicit trade, which is based overseas and out of reach.

Washington must wish this fight never came its way. Both sides in this fight are prized interest groups which symbolize American ingenuity and leadership, not to mention timely campaign contributions.

Who wants to pick between Mark Zuckerberg and Steven Spielberg?

In citing its misgivings, a team of Obama security and tech experts hit all the high notes: The proposals invite censorship at a time when the United States is encouraging Internet freedom worldwide, risk cybersecurity worries by pushing web users to find ways to evade the suggested controls, and throws a blanket over the "dynamic, innovative" nature of the digital beast.

Washington should consider other, more carefully targeted ways to combat a serious problem.

- San Francisco Chronicle