Internet+Filtering

= Internet Filtering = toc Internet filtering also known as content-control is when restrictions are applied to computers and, more specifically, the websites or content that a person can access. Sometimes, as indicated by this on-line Wall Street Journal editorial, filters are used by parents to help guard or shield their children from certain material.

There are also instances in which employers or businesses place filters on company computers to protect company files and/or discourage their employees from visiting websites that are not job or work related.

One other primary use of filters is in public and school libraries. These institutions often place filtering software on their public access computers to protect minors from accessing material that is deemed too mature or explicit. Many such libraries adopted the use of filters, in part, because of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), enacted in 2001 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) division of the United States Congress.

Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
The purpose of the CIPA is to make a concerted effort to protect children by prohibiting their access to sexually explicit and offensive material over the Internet on public and school library computers.

In essence, the CIPA attempts to govern what children are and are not able to access through the use of publicly funded computers. In order to ensure that most public libraries and schools media centers are in doing their part, the CIPA stipulates the following:

What CIPA Requires
(Originally published on FCC.gov (http://www.fcc.gov)) Schools and libraries are required to certify that they have their safety policies and technology in place before receiving E-rate funding.
 * Schools and libraries subject to CIPA may not receive the discounts offered by the E-rate program unless they certify that they have an Internet safety policy that includes technology protection measures. The protection measures must block or filter Internet access to pictures that are: (a) obscene; (b) child pornography; or (c) harmful to minors (for computers that are accessed by minors). Before adopting this Internet safety policy, schools and libraries must provide reasonable notice and hold at least one public hearing or meeting to address the proposal.
 * Schools subject to CIPA are required to adopt and enforce a policy to monitor online activities of minors.
 * Schools and libraries subject to CIPA are required to adopt and implement an Internet safety policy addressing: (a) access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet; (b) the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communications; (c) unauthorized access, including so-called “hacking,” and other unlawful activities by minors online; (d) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and (e) measures restricting minors’ access to materials harmful to them.
 * CIPA does not affect E-rate funding for schools and libraries receiving discounts only for telecommunications, such as telephone service.
 * An authorized person may disable the blocking or filtering measure during use by an adult to enable access for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.
 * CIPA does not require the tracking of Internet use by minors or adults.

Examples of Internet Filtering or Content-Control Software

 * McAfee Family Protection (used by parents)
 * NetNanny (used by parents)
 * SurfWatch (used by parents, businesses, schools, etc.)
 * DansGuardian (used by businesses, schools, libraries)
 * SafeSquid (used by schools, libraries, etc.)
 * Websense (used by businesses and governments)