Parents Urged to Take Active Role in Internet Safety

Strategic Insights -

At the Aspen Summit, a technology conference sponsored by the Progress & Freedom Foundation, experts from Qwest, Comcast, Microsoft, and other companies emphasized the need for parental involvement in protecting children from Internet predators and inappropriate content. While tools exist to help parents, many express concern but fail to act, leading to a "not in my backyard syndrome." The industry is working to educate parents and schools, institute Internet controls, and cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

Key Takeaways:

  • Qwest Communications is the first broadband company to publicly support legislation requiring Internet data to be retained for a year, with Jennifer Mardosz, Qwest's chief privacy officer, stating they "absolutely" support the proposal.
  • Parents need to be more engaged in protecting children from Internet predators and inappropriate content, with experts citing a "not in my backyard syndrome" as a major shortcoming.
  • The video game industry association notes that there are "ton of tools" available to help parents, including ratings on every video game, but parents often fail to act on their concerns.
  • Microsoft is testing a new Windows Live software program to help parents more easily set restrictions and audit their children's activity on the Internet.
  • Qwest is promoting internet safety awareness through its IncredibleInternet.com Web site and a program providing financial grants to Colorado schools that successfully encourage parents to take the Internet safety test.

Statistics:

  • Qwest will retain Internet addresses for 1 year.
  • Comcast will increase its data retention from 31 days to 180 days, effective September 1.
  • The Entertainment Software Association reports that there are "ton of tools" available to help parents, including a rating on every video game.

Sources:

  • "Qwest becomes first broadband company to publicly support data-retention legislation" (C/net)
  • Aspen Summit (Progress & Freedom Foundation)
  • Qwest Communications
  • Entertainment Software Association (Doug Lowenstein)
  • Microsoft (Rich Lappenbusch)