Path: extra-extra.p2.pa-x.dec.com!news1.digital.com!decwrl!hookup!news.mathwork s.com!tank.news.pipex.net!pipex!dish.news.pipex.net!pipex!dircon!gw4-102.pool.d ircon.co.uk!user From: pfs@dircon.co.uk (Patrick Shearcroft) Newsgroups: alt.online-service.compuserve Subject: CIS implements parental control, restores Usenet conferences Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 08:38:47 +0000 Organization: The Direct Connection Lines: 79 Message-ID:NNTP-Posting-Host: gw4-102.pool.dircon.co.uk ****CompuServe Gives Online Control To Parents 02/13/96 COLUMBUS, OHIO, U.S.A., 1996 FEB 13 (NB) -- After attracting international media attention over its decision to suspend access to certain Internet newsgroups, CompuServe focused on the creation and implementation of a "software solution." Today, the veteran online service announced Parental Controls Center, an area which educates parents of online dangers for children and offers controls to filter Internet and CompuServe content. Teaming with Microsystems Software of Framingham, Massachusetts, CompuServe is offering all of its subscribers free use of an online and Internet content control feature. Based on Microsystems' Cyber Patrol product, the new service allows parents to restrict access to Internet newsgroups, Telnet, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), and File Transfer Protocol (FTP). Parents are also able to restrict access to CompuServe areas which have adult-oriented content. Additionally, selectively chosen areas of the World Wide Web can be filtered. Parental Controls Center also offers parents access to Child Safety Online, a publication about potential dangers on the Internet, and a forum in which to discuss access restriction issues with other parents. Parents are also encouraged to nominate Internet content which they find as questionable for children. Microsystems also provides a content review service which indicates new Internet content. Updates are produced weekly. With this announcement, CompuServe and Microsystems says they have responded to a consistent criticism of access control software. Earlier products were built on a "deny access" model. As quickly as an access is denied by name, a newsgroup can change its name. Many experts said a working model had to contain a "allow access-only" model. This means a control service should focus on allowing a minor to access only those areas which have previously been selected by the parent as safe. Cyber Pilot uses the "deny access" and "access-only" model. "We want to give parents a system which offers them as much control as possible," said Susan Getgood, marketing director of Microsystems. Users can prevent a minor from accessing an entire category such as all "alt" newsgroups, or specific "alt" newsgroup, or allow a minor to access only pre-selected, approved newsgroups. The same choices apply to other Internet areas. On December, 28, 1995, CompuServe announced the suspension of more than 200 Internet newsgroups, because of a complaint by the German government. While the media and Internet newsgroups focused on the issue of censorship, CompuServe said the decision was based on the fact that the German authorities were prepared to arrest CompuServe employees in Germany. "We really did not want to see that happen," explained Jeff Shafer, CompuServe spokesperson. "This was never an issue of censorship on our part. We did what we had to do to comply with German laws." At the time, CompuServe did not have the software capability to control Internet content for regional and national areas. "Rather than make a quick fix, we decided to look for an access control system which would give parents full control," continued Shafer. "With Cyber Pilot, we feel we have a solution which will please our users, the computer and online industry, and the German government. This system allows our subscribers full freedom to create their own Internet experience and the Internet experience of the minor children under their responsibility." CompuServe also announced it is officially lifting the suspension of the newsgroups in question. Asked about the relationship of this announcement to the recently signed Telecom bill, Shafer commented, "Today's announcement would have been made whether the bill was signed last week or in a month. But with this service, we feel we are compliant with the spirit of the bill and are showing the world the online industry can deal with the problems of what types of content a minor can access on the Internet and on CompuServe." Parental Controls Center is currently available in English and in German. Other language version are in development. CompuServe says it has chosen to continue to suspend content to five Internet newsgroups which contain child pornography materials. (Patrick McKenna/19960213/Press Contact: Susan Getgood, Microsystems, 508-879-9000; Jeff Shafer, CompuServe, 614-538-4632) -- Patrick