The Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006^[1] (DOPA) is a bill (H.R. 5319) brought before the United States House of Representatives on May 9, 2006 by Republican Pennsylvania Representative (R-PA) Mike Fitzpatrick. The proposed act would amend the Communications Act of 1934, requiring schools and libraries that receive E-rate funding to protect minors from online predators in the absence of parental supervision when using "Commercial Social Networking Websites" and "Chat Rooms". The act would prohibit schools and libraries from providing access to these types of websites to minors. The act also requires the institutions to be capable of disabling the restrictions for "use by an adult or by minors with adult supervision to enable access for educational purposes."

The proposed act is considered controversial because the definition could potentially limit access to a wide range of websites, including many with harmless and educational material. Arguments for the bill focus on the dangers of adults contacting children on MySpace and similar websites. However, many Internet websites -- ranging from Yahoo to Slashdot to Amazon.com -- allow user accounts, public profiles, and user forums, which fits the bill's definition of "social networking". The bill places the onus upon the Federal Communications Commission to clarify this, which would be outside of direct legislative control.