Speaking at the world’s first convention on online safety in Singapore, ICRA’s executive director, Stephen Balkam, will urge over 400 delegates to rate their sites using a new labelling and filtering system which will protect vulnerable users AND maintain freedom of expression for content providers. He will also call for industry collaboration to deliver sensible and practical solutions to the safety issues concerning parents and campaigners throughout the world.
The conference is the first of its kind and responds to global concerns about the dangers presented by the World Wide Web. It will encourage the Internet industry to work together for a more ethical, responsible and safe Internet environment, targeting online service providers, content creators, regulators, educators and advocates promoting child-safety on the web.
“The Internet industry must act now to protect its users and its future” says Balkam. “The World Wide Web makes a great contribution to global communications, business and education, but there is increasing concern about the harm it can do if not used properly.”
“With the threat of censorship and government regulation now a reality in many countries, the industry must take responsible steps to self regulate if they are to ensure the safety of web users and retain the freedom of expression that makes the Internet so unique and popular. The ICRASafe system is a great step in this direction and something that content providers can sign up to now.”
Safe Surfing 2001 is jointly organised by one of ICRA’s Board members, the Parents Advisory Group for the Internet (PAGi), and the National Internet Advisory Committee (NIAC), with support from the Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA). Stephen Balkam will speak as part of an authoritative panel, which includes the Internet Watch Foundation and Childnet International.
In addition to key note speeches, Safe Surfing 2001 will host an exhibition with an exclusive display of advanced services and applications for ensuring safety on the Internet.
Content providers wishing to label their sites should visit www.icra.org and fill in the rating form.
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Notes for editors:
ICRA:
The Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA) is an independent non-profit organisation with offices in Europe (UK) and the USA. ICRA’s mission is to protect children from potentially harmful material on the Internet, whilst protecting the content providers’ freedom of expression.
ICRA works in partnership with content providers toward the responsible development and growth of the Internet and is supported by AOL, Bell Canada, The Bertelsmann Foundation, BT, Cable & Wireless, Digimarc, Electronic Network Consortium (Japan), EuroISPA, IBM, Internet Watch Foundation, Microsoft Corp, Network Solutions Inc, Novell, Ondigital, PAGi (Singapore), Software and Information Industry Association, T-Online, Thus and UUNet.
ICRA is currently developing a new global system which will provide content providers with a tool to label their content objectively and parents with a device to filter content according to what they feel is appropriate for their children to view. The revised ICRA system will be launched in two parts – the labeling system for content providers is now available and the filtering systems for parents will be available in 2001.
As well as the ICRA labelling system, the organisation owns and operates the RSACi (Recreational Software Advisory Council on the Internet) rating and filtering system, which is integrated into Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Netscape’s Navigator. The RSACi system provides customers with information about the level of sex, nudity, violence, and offensive language in websites.