"Donna Rice Hughes has been a sincere and effective advocate
on behalf of children's online safety, and a leader in calling attention
to the responsibilities of companies, the community and parents in
protecting children on the Internet. By continuing to speak out and
partner with the rest of the Internet community to address the needs
of children, Donna is helping all of us build a medium we can be proud
of."
Steve Case, Chairman and CEO, America Online, Inc.
How can I help shape the safety issues of the Internet?
What does family-friendly policy look like?
What roles do industry leaders and the law enforcement community
have in Internet safety?
It Takes All Of Us
How can the Internet become safe for my child, my family, and future
generations? The answer lies in a shared responsibility among the
public (parents, educators, librarians, and others who supervise
children), the high-tech industry, and law enforcement. Each provides
a layer of protection and security for the safety of kids online.
And whenever one of these entities endeavors to accept its responsibility
for child safety online, we need to affirm and support those efforts.
Why is it important to become involved in making the Internet safe
for children? The answer is two-dimensional. First, the Internet
is an invaluable resource that can benefit children. The second
reason to be involved is the vast potential for pollution of the
Internet, which destroys its value to everyone.
Public Awareness
Messages to be included in an effective
public awareness program.
The Role of the Technology Industry
What constitutes family-friendly policy?
Suggested Code of Ethical Conduct for ISPs and OSPs
Zero-tolerance policy against child pornography
Law Enforcement/Law Makers
- Current local, state, and federal efforts
- Areas of law enforcement responsiblity
- Lack of enforcement of Internet obscenty laws
- Funding and resources
- The Public's Role--By supporting more aggressive enforcement
of cybercrime laws, you can help build those standards of
responsibility. Remember, public opinion drives public policy
and law enforcement!
Congressional Internet Caucus
The public is invited to visit the new Internet Caucus Advisory
Committee Web site at http://www.netcaucus.org.
Conclusion: Why It Will Take All of Us
Stories of what others have done to make a difference
For the Internet to survive as well as fulfill its potential
as the communications vehicle of the future, it must achieve mainstream
acceptance. As one of the most important developments in the history
of communications, the Internet must become a safe and worthwhile
medium for all users. There are many issues that confront this
new medium. I want to challenge you to work alongside those of
us at the grass roots as well as at the national and international
levels, who are seeking solutions that will ensure a safe and
secure Internet that will truly reach its wonderful potential.
Protecting our children on the Internet is a shared responsibility!
Take advantage of the resources you find in these pages. You are
not powerless, and you are not alone!
Kids Online: Protecting Your Children In Cyberspace
I have designed this book to be used as an awareness tool, a
training manual and a "take action" plan for parents and others
involved in the supervision of children. Simply by reading this
book, you are increasing your awareness of the issues surrounding
child safety online and thereby becoming better equipped to ensure
that your child's online experience is safe, educational, and
entertaining.
Additionally, by accessing the information in the resource lists
and other appendices in the book that give Web sites, you will
be able to get the most up-to-date information regarding child
safety online.
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