Debate Emerges Over Filtering Software

A new debate is emerging over the effectiveness of Internet filtering software, which is used by schools, libraries and homes to protect children from objectionable content on the Internet. Since Congress passed the Children?s Internet Protection Act in December 2000, filtering has become a legal requirement for schools and libraries that apply for or receive some form of federal funding.

In a new article "Digital Chaperones For Kids" Consumer Reports notes that there are minimal safeguards for children surfing at home. Researchers tested ten software products, including AOL?s parental controls.

Consumer Reports points out some drawbacks to the software, including censorship of non-objectionable web sites. The report noted, ?In some cases, filters block harmless sites merely because their software does not consider the context in which a word or phrase is used. Far more troubling is when a filter appears to block legitimate sites based on moral or political value judgments.? The American Library Association has historically opposed filtering software for this very reason. First amendment concerns were raised when some products blocked obvious sites for political activism.

Another major drawback is the failure of the software to block out up to 20 percent of objectionable sites. In some cases, the software allowed the test-user to access a site with graphic pictures, only blocking out the negative word content.

The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) has countered Consumer Reports? conclusions. ITAA President Harris Miller noted, ?Millions of homes and schools use filtering technologies to help protect children from objectionable material on the Internet. Filtering software is an incredible tool for parenting in the digital age, but it should not be confused as a replacement for active parenting.?

Consumer Reports agreed, and recommended four products that performed the best under their experiment?Cyber Patrol, Cybersitter 2000, Net Nanny and Cyber Snoop. The filtering debate will be monitored by schools and public officials as they make an effort to comply with the Children?s Internet Protection Act.