Internet Online Summit: Focus on Children

This conference was held in Washington, D.C., on Dec 1-3, 1997

The global Internet offers exciting new opportunities for children and families to research their homework online, communicate with international penpals, and build personal websites to share their creativity with others. But with these opportunities come challenges: how can children remain safe within this ever-expanding global village? Risks range from sites filled with misinformation to sites which expose users to illegal pornography. The problem of pedophiles and others who target children online is also a concern. In order to address these issues, law enforcement, the Internet and online industry, and families, libraries, schools, responsible corporations and community groups must work together.

Children may not understand these online risks, and parents may not be familiar enough with current technological and other solutions to these concerns. Key to bringing more families online, and keeping them online, is educating the parents about the range of available options. There are things parents can do to protect their children. Should they wish to, they can make choices about what their children may access online.

Industry must also continue to address these concerns with inexpensive and easy to use solutions and "child safe" zones. Making broad access to quality content on the Internet must be a community top priority, where all schools, libraries, community groups, responsible corporations and parents join forces to identify and implement appropriate solutions.

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary
2. Introduction
3. Benefits and Risks

Access by Pedophiles to Children

Access by Children to Pornography

Distribution of child pornography

4. Community Efforts

Parental Involvement

Digital Toolbox

Parental Controls

Blocking and Filtering Software Solutions

Server-level Filtering

Ratings

Specialized Search Engines

Reviewed and Recommended Content

Closed Systems and Communities

Codes of ethical conduct and responsible commercial activity

• Schools and Libraries

Libraries

Schools

• Law Enforcement

Existing Laws applying to Pornography on the Internet

Gaps in the Existing Law

International Community

Public Awareness

5. Quality Content and Uses
6. Conclusion
7. Signatories

An overview of the issues concerning child safety online, prepared by:

Organizations:

Childnet International
CyberAngels
Internet Safety Organization
Enough is Enough
Family Research Council
Focus on the Family
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families
Safeguarding Our Children - United Mothers

Individuals

Parry Aftab, Esq., cyberspace lawyer and author of A Parents' Guide to the Internet...and how to protect your children in cyberspace.

Jean Armour Polly, Net-mom®, author of The Internet Kids and Family Yellow Pages

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