KIDS ON THE INTERNET

In general, filtering programs work by:

1. Assigning each user of a PC a separate username which links to a profile of acceptable use.
2. Blocking access to sites deemed unsuitable.
   (e.g. SurfWatch's core criteria of Sexually Explicit, Violence,
   Hate Speech, Gambling, Drugs/Alcohol)
   (e.g. SurfWatch's productivity criteria of Astrology, Entertainment, Games, General News, Job Search ...)
3. Blocking sites that post "Adults Only" text.
4. Disabling private text from being entered into URLs
5. Disabling chat or limiting the text that can be entered.
6. Disabling or limiting access to newsgroups.
7. Monitoring the sites that are browsed.
8. Monitoring text that is entered in URLs and search engines.

RATING SYSTEMS

• Safe Surf Web rating system (Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer)
• Recreational Software Advisory Council of the Internet (RSACi) (Microsoft Internet Explorer only)
• W3C Platform for Internet Content Selection (PICS)

FILTERING SOFTWARE

• The Learning Company's CyberPatrol filtering software
• SurfWatch Software
• Cybersitter filtering software

FILTERING ISPs & SEARCH ENGINES

• Rated G Online, a filtered Internet Service Provider
• The Christian Living Network, a CyberSitter-filtered Internet Service Provider
• AltaVista's Family Friendly search feature

INFORMATION AND OPINION

• Fahrenheit 451.2, the ACLU's opposition to filtering
• Filtering Facts pro-filtering home page
• Peacefire anti-filtering organization
• Filtering Information on the Internet. Paul Resnick. Scientific American, March 1997, pp. 106-108.
• W3C's Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P)
• Darien Public Library Children's Services

Copyright 1998, 1999  by the International Informatics Institute, Inc.
All rights reserved.