SafeSurf Press Release
1300-G El Paseo Road #104, Las Cruces, NM 88001
Web Site: http://www.safesurf.com/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 14, 1996
Contact : Vincent Jules
Press Phone : (818) 613-1415
E-mail : press at safesurf dot com
INTERNET PARENTS' GROUP JOINS CONGRESSWOMAN TO PROMOTE AMENDMENT TO TELCOM BILL
Washington, D.C.--SafeSurf, a parents' organization who pioneered the Internet's rating system, is joining efforts with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo to promote acceptance of her newly introduced Telecom amendment that would protect children by encouraging the use of content labeling and rating technology rather than governmental censorship.
Called the "Online Parental Control Act of 1996", Eshoo's Amendment will be posted at SafeSurf's Web site ( http://www.safesurf.com/) on its "History of a Child Safe Internet" time line of significant events. SafeSurf has also pledged to work with Rep. Eshoo to ensure that the final version encompasses both the needs of parents and the online community.
"We applaud Congresswoman Eshoo for introducing the first legislation that makes sense to the Internet 's global community," said Ray Soular, Chairman of SafeSurf.
SafeSurf first introduced its Internet rating system last year as part of its efforts to create a safe "cyber-playground" for children. Soon after, SafeSurf assisted a combined industry effort known as PICS (Platform for Internet Content Selection), in designing and establishing an Internet protocol for labeling content.
The PICS protocol provides software and browser companies with a common method to read all rated content. The end result is that parents will be able to designate viewing levels according to the age of their children and their own personal standards. The system now gives parents the tools needed to set the computer to only accept material they have determined is appropriate for their family.
"I believe that technological solutions, such as the SafeSurf Rating System, give parents the tools they need to protect their children without sacrificing our country's 1st Amendment rights," stated Rep. Eshoo.
Among the filtering products supporting the SafeSurf and PICS Standards are Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Net Nanny Ltd.'s Net Nanny, Microsystems' CyberPatrol, InterGO's InterGO, SurfWatch's SurfWatch and SolidOak's Cybersitter.
An "easy-to-rate" form located at the SafeSurf Web Site (http://www.safesurf.com/) has already enabled thousands of sites to self-rate themselves based upon their content.
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