[83160] in Cypherpunks
SPA statement and RSAC release
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Declan McCullagh)
Wed Jul 16 12:12:56 1997
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 08:17:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Reply-To: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 08:17:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
To: fight-censorship@vorlon.mit.edu
Subject: SPA statement and RSAC release
Statement by Ken Wasch, President, Software Publishers Association
PR News Wire via Dow Jones
White House Forum: Children on the Internet =20
WASHINGTON, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement by Ken=
Wasch,
President of the Software Publishers Association: =20
"The software industry recognizes -- and understands -- the legitimate
concerns of parents, educators, the President and Vice President, legisla=
tors
and other citizens about the content and suitability of many Internet sit=
es for
our children. We believe parents should have the opportunity, and readil=
y
available tools, to monitor -- and block -- objectionable online content.
"Today's White House Forum is an important step in highlighting this is=
sue by
bringing together a diverse group of concerned organizations and individu=
als to
focus on what must be done. SPA appreciates the invitation of the Presid=
ent and
the Vice President to represent the software industry at this forum. How=
ever,
after we leave the White House, the responsibility of marrying freedom of=
speech
with these legitimate concerns falls on the shoulders of the software ind=
ustry.=20
The software industry develops the tools and products that, in turn, can =
put a
brown wrapper around objectionable material on the Internet. Others may =
talk;
the software industry must act.=20
"Understanding its responsibility, the software industry several years =
ago
helped establish a process of self-regulation and content ratings through=
the
Recreational Software Advisory Council (RSAC). Today, RSAC, through its
Internet ratings system -- RSACi -- has assigned objective content labels=
to
more than 35,000 online sites in just 12 months. RSACi is now the world'=
s
leading Internet content ratings system, empowering parents everywhere to=
block
online content they believe offensive. It is important to keep in mind t=
hat
'Truth in Packaging' has nothing to do with suppression of content. RSACi=
is a
labeling system, not a system of censorship.=20
"At today's White House Forum, the success of RSACi as an effective, no=
-cost
tool for concerned parents was highlighted. It is no coincidence that tw=
o of
this nation's largest corporations have committed to using the RSACi rati=
ngs
system in their online efforts. SPA and the software industry congratula=
te
Disney -- with its strong family emphasis -- and IBM on their decisions t=
o work
with RSAC. We know others will join them. Then RSACi will become the un=
iversal
ratings standard, allowing everyone everywhere to benefit from the exciti=
ng
world of the Internet, without the inhibition of state-imposed regulation=
or
censorship." =20
SPA is the leading trade association of the software industry, represen=
ting
1,200 leading publishers as well as start-up firms developing software
applications and tools for use on the desktop, the Internet, and client-s=
erver
networks. =20
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RECREATIONAL SOFTWARE ADVISORY COUNCIL
WELCOMES IBM AS CORPORATE SPONSOR
IBM Supports RSAC Initiative to Provide Self-Regulation of Internet Conte=
nt
Washington, D.C. -- July 16, 1997 =96 The Recreational Software Advisory =
Council
(RSAC) today announced that IBM has become a corporate sponsor of RSAC =96=
the
non-profit organization committed to providing Internet users with detail
regarding web site content. IBM is contributing $100,000 to RSAC, the
non-profit developer of RSACi, the voluntary, non-judgmental content labe=
ling
software system that allows consumers and Webmasters to create customized
filters of online content.
"The astounding popularity and growth of the Internet has brought about i=
ts
greatest challenge -- controlling the flow of content that some feel is
inappropriate for children, students, or corporate staff. RSAC's goal ha=
s never
been to restrict the act of free speech, but rather to allow free speech =
while
simultaneously empowering consumers to control the content to which they'=
re
exposed," commented Stephen Balkam, executive director of RSAC. "We're v=
ery
pleased to be working with IBM to continue our effort to make the Interne=
t fun
and safe for everyone."
"Effective technology complements the efforts of parents and teachers in
monitoring children's' use of the Internet," said John Patrick, IBM's Vic=
e
President, Internet technology. "IBM is committed to providing parents =
and
educators with the tools to help children leverage the Internet appropria=
tely.=20
We are proud to be working with RSAC in creating an Internet environment =
that is
consistent with the interests of parents, teachers and children."
RSACi, or RSAC on the Internet, is the objective content-labeling advisor=
y
system that is fully compliant with the World Wide Web consortium's indus=
try
standard for web content rating, the Platform for Internet Content Select=
ion
(PICS). RSACi is a fully-automated system that relies on Webmasters to c=
omplete
a detailed questionnaire regarding the level, nature and intensity of the=
sex,
nudity, violence or offensive language (vulgar or hate-motivated) found w=
ithin
their web site. The responses given then generate rating tags that -- wh=
en
posted on the web site -- are read by not only popular browsers (such as
Microsoft's Internet Explorer), but by blocking system software (such as
MicroSystem's Cyber Patrol), allowing consumers to anticipate Internet co=
ntent
and block any materials they deem inappropriate, or offensive.
To date, the RSACi content advisory system has been used to rate more tha=
n
35,000 web sites -- and it is anticipated that this number will grow to m=
ore
than 120,000 in the coming year. "It's our opinion that the IBM sponsors=
hip --
together with the recent formation of the International Ratings Working G=
roup at
the Bonn Ministerial Conference -- will lead to a four-fold increase in r=
ated
sites over the next calendar year," commented Stephen Balkam.
IBM has been a leader in developing and supporting standard content filte=
ring
programs and technologies for years. In addition to sponsoring RSAC, IBM
contributed to the development of PICS within the W3C earlier this year. =
IBM
also ships NetVista, an Internet server designed for educational institut=
ions
that helps teachers integrate the Web directly into the classroom while
filtering inappropriate content.
IBM, the world's largest software provider, creates, develops and manufac=
tures
the industry's most advanced information technologies, including computer
systems, software, networking systems, storage devices and microelectroni=
cs.=20
IBM offers complete information about the company, its products, services=
and
technology on the World Wide Web at http://www.ibm.com. For more informa=
tion
about IBM Software to go to the IBM Software home page at
http://www.software.ibm.com.
The Recreational Software Advisory Council is an independent, non-profit
organization based in Washington, D.C, that empowers the public, especial=
ly
parents, to make informed decisions about electronic media by means of an=
open,
objective, content advisory system. The RSACi system provides consumers =
with
information about the level of sex, nudity, violence, offensive language =
(vulgar
or hate-motivated) in software games and Web sites. To date, RSACi has b=
een
integrated into Microsoft's browser, Internet Explorer, and MicroSystem's=
Cyber
Patrol Software. CompuServe (US and Europe) has also committed to rate a=
ll
its content with the RSACi system.
More information on RSAC and the RSACi rating system is available at
http://www.rsac.org.
# # #
