Sign in Subscribe
Telecommunications software

America Online Expands Parental Controls with SurfWatch Technology

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

America Online (AOL) is taking a significant step to empower parents in restricting access to certain content on the internet for their children. Through a letter of intent with SurfWatch Software Inc., AOL plans to make SurfWatch's blocking tools for sexually explicit material available to parents. This move is aimed at giving parents the necessary tools to control what their children can access on the internet, including the AOL service.

Key Takeaways:

  • AOL has signed a letter of intent with SurfWatch Software Inc. to expand its parental control features, allowing parents to restrict access to certain content on the internet.
  • The SurfWatch tools will be integrated with AOL's existing technology, enabling parents to block access to unwanted material on the World Wide Web by September.
  • The SurfWatch tools will be available as an option for AOL parents who want to censor what their children can view on the internet.
  • SurfWatch specializes in products that enable parents, teachers, and employers to block sexually explicit material on the internet.
  • The company has demonstrated its software to members of Congress, highlighting its potential as a technological alternative to internet censorship.
  • SurfWatch offers the SurfWatch Subscription Service, which provides updates to the database of blocked sites, ensuring that AOL parents are protected from new sites that appear on the internet daily.

Statistics:

  • Three million America Online members will have access to the SurfWatch tools, enabling them to limit access to unwanted material on the internet.
  • SurfWatch supports all popular browsers and major internet applications for both Windows and Macintosh.
  • The company was founded in January [no specific date mentioned in the original text].

Sources:

  • America Online (no specific date mentioned in the original text)
  • SurfWatch Software Inc. (no specific date mentioned in the original text)
  • SurfWatch Software Inc. is mentioned as being founded in January (no specific date mentioned in this context).

Read more