Protect Kids on the Net

Download the Flash player at www.macromedia.com.

5 December 2006, ICANN, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, reviewing revised proposal for a new domain-- ".xxx," proposed by the ICM Registry. This revision includes additions to protect children, ensure registrants label content clearly, prohibit spam, prevent certain religious or culturally sensitive names from being registered and donate money to child safety organizations.

22 November 2006, U.S. District Judge Nancy Gertner from Massachusetts District Court confirmed a long-standing precedent that convictions in child pornography prosecutions must rely on actual, not virtual, images of children.

Pre-election fall 2006, the Mark Foley "House Page Scandal" adds saliva to the legislative palate for passage of a comprehensive Internet data retention act in the 110th Congress.

27 June 2006, five major online companies announced joint initiative with National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to launch an aggressive new campaign against child exploitation on the Internet.

Late 2000, Congress enacted The Children’s Internet Protection Act (“CIPA-2000”), which required school and libraries to employ filtering software to address access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet.

Late 1998, Congress enacted the Protection from Sexual Predators Act (“PSPA-1998”), which amended the federal criminal code to increase penalties for any Predator using the Internet (or any other form of communication) to solicit the personal information of a person under 16 with the intent to entice, encourage, offer, or solicit any person to engage in illegal sexual activity.

Step One: Educate your child about the dangers of the Internet. Kids of all ages, including teenagers, will respond to the movie of Faux Paw's misadventure on the Internet at the Ikeepsafe.org website or here by clicking on Faux Paw's head above.

Step Two: Install a program, such as Net Nanny on any computer that your child can access. Net Nanny stops illicit material from invading your child's computer by filtering and blocking web content while they surf. It also limits the hours and amount of time the Internet can be accessed. Parents can selectively block "file sharing" and "chat" programs.

Step Three: Block all chat rooms, see Step Two.

Step Four: Block all IM, instant messaging software, see Step Two.

Step Five: Consider putting a time limit or a bracket on the hours the computer may be used, see Step Two.

Step Six: Block (and forbid) all social networking sites; such as MySpace.com and Facebook.com, see Step Two.

Step Seven: Keep all computers in a central room with unimpeded traffic.

Step Eight: Check the Internet history regularly. If you find it erased, someone (your spouse or your teenager) is hiding certain web activity from view. Review the web history for troublesome activity. For Windows computers, while in Internet Explorer:

Go to "Tools" in main menu on Internet Explorer.

Click on "Internet Options."

in "Temporary Internet files" click on "Settings" button.

Click on "View Files" button.

Sort by clicking on appropriate column heading.

The Internet Keep Safe Coalition is a not-for-profit organization that teaches basic rules of Internet safety to children and parents.

See the adventures of Faux Paw.

Get more information on Net Nanny by clicking on the Net Nanny icon below:

The Advocates support the goals of the NCMEC, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, which serves as a national clearinghouse for information and a resource for child protection. NCMEC's congressionally mandated CyberTipline, a reporting mechanism for child sexual exploitation, has handled nearly a half million leads. The organization received $32.6 million in tax dollars in 2005.

You may access a map of sex offenders in or near you neighborhood from the National Registry by clicking on the this ICON: