Federal judge blocks computer decency law February 15, 1996 Web posted at: 6:35 p.m. EST PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A federal judge Thursday banned the government from enforcing a new law forbidding the transmission of "indecent" material to minors over computer networks. U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter said his temporary restraining order would remain in effect at least until he hears arguments on a lawsuit the American Civil Liberties Union and 19 other groups filed on Feb. 8 -- the same day President Clinton signed the Communications Decency Act into law. At the time, the Justice Department said it would wait at least a week before prosecuting any violators, but didn't rule out gathering evidence in the meantime. The ACLU argued the law would violate privacy rights and strangle free speech by authorizing the government to prosecute people even for the private messages they send about AIDS, abortion, politics and science -- any subject involving sex. The Justice Department argued the law, which carries fines up to $250,000 and prison terms of up to five years, will protect children from pornography. They denied the ban would affect general information about abortion and AIDS. The law defines indecency as "any comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image or other communication that, in context, depicts or describes in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards, sexual or excretory activities or organs."