Supplement to the statement that the Center for Democracy & Technology submitted previously, related to our concerns about the potential impacts of S.97, the Children's Internet Protection Act.

Supplement to the statement that the Center for Democracy & Technology submitted previously, related to our concerns about the potential impacts of S.97, the Children's Internet Protection Act.

May 20, 1999

The Honorable John McCain

Committee on Commerce

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator McCain:

I am writing to supplement the statement that the Center for Democracy & Technology submitted previously, related to our concerns about the potential impacts of S.97, the Children's Internet Protection Act. In addition to our constitutional concerns, we believe that S. 97 will hinder the research, development, and implementation of new child-safety technology. CDT shares Congress' desire to help young people have safe, educational and fun experiences in an online environment, but we are concerned that S.97 singles out one technology, "technology for filtering or blocking material on the Internet," over other existing and developing technologies. In doing so, S. 97 puts Congress in the position of making technology choices best left to the marketplace.

At the present time, we have found approximately 125 technological hardware and software tools available that are designed to promote child safety and to empower families to choose what material is appropriate for their children. (See attached list of examples.) Some are designed to filter or block material on the Internet. Others are designed to monitor computer use (either online or offline), to limit the amount of time a particular child can use the computer or be online, to prevent children from receiving e-mail from strangers, to keep children out of unmonitored chatrooms, or to stop children from giving out personal information such as address, telephone number, or parents' credit card information, for example. There are also child-specific search engines and pre-screened "Greenspaces" for children.

It is our view that Congress should not influence the market by singling out a particular technology of choice. While filtering and blocking tools may be the right choice in some settings, other tools may be appropriate in different situations. If S.97 is enacted, schools and libraries will have to purchase "technology for filtering or blocking material on the Internet," even if they believe an alternative technology provides better protection in their environment. Considering the number of schools and libraries in this country, purchases prompted by this bill will have a substantial impact on this market. Congress should not lock-in specific technology in a market with the level of growth and change we have in the Internet industry. Singling out technological "winners" through legislation may limit the development of additional child safety tools.

We encourage you to develop technologically neutral proposals. We strongly believe that the market, not Congress, will best determine what products best meet the goal of protecting kids online.

Sincerely,

Jerry Berman

cc: Senate Commerce Committee Members

Examples of Tools For Protecting Children Online

This list is not exhaustive. The Internet industry changes and evolves constantly. However, it includes a broad range of the tools available to families, businesses, schools, and libraries other than blocking and filtering tools. (Some examples can also be configured to block or filter Internet content.)

Tools Enforcing Time Restrictions

Cyber Patrol | http://www.learningco.com

Enuff | http://www.akrontech.com

Gulliver’s Guardian Internet Suite | http://www.gulliver.nb.ca

KidDesk Internet Safe | http://www.edmark.com/prod/kdis

WebLoc | http://www.weblok.com

Pre-Screened Content ("Greenspaces") for Kids

Bonus.com the SuperSite for Kids | http://www.bonus.com

CrayonCrawler | http://www.crayoncrawler.com

Global Chalkboard | http://www.bascom.com

JuniorNet | http://www.juniornet.com/

KiddoNet | http://www.kiddonet.com/indexn_3.htm