National Organization Dedicated to Child Online Safety Calls on President to Sign Legislation

Web Wise Kids applauds Congress for passing legislation that takes a positive step forward in promoting youth online safety. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye and Vice Chairman Ted Stevens ensured that provisions were included in the Broadband Data Improvement Act (S. 1492) that will support efforts to increase public awareness and education of Internet safety, protect children from cybercrimes and help parents shield their children from inappropriate material. S. 1492 now is headed to the President's desk for his consideration.

As a national leader in providing Internet safety education, Web Wise Kids' interactive programs have reached over 5 million children and thousands of parents nationwide.

"Web Wise Kids applauds Congress for recognizing the importance of programs that educate parents, children, educators, law enforcement professionals, the media and other communities about youth Internet safety and ethical behavior," said Judi Westberg Warren, CEO of Web Wise Kids. "We encourage the President to sign this legislation and call on Congress and the next Administration to substantially increase funding to meet the growing need for Internet safety programs and resources."

S. 1492 requires that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) carry out a nationwide program to increase public awareness and education regarding strategies to promote the safe use of the Internet by children. The legislation also establishes an "Online Safety and Technology Working Group" comprised of representatives from business, nonprofit and government sectors. Tasks of the working group include evaluating efforts to promote online safety through education, parental control technology, blocking and filtering software, age-appropriate labels for content and the development of technologies to help parents shield their children from inappropriate online content.

Web Wise Kids also commends the leadership of Congresswoman Melissa Bean, who sponsored similar legislation that passed the House of Representatives in November 2007.

"In the ever-changing world of technology and youth online safety, the best way for Congress to protect children online is to support collaborative, comprehensive and diversified approaches to online safety education," added Westberg Warren. "The escalation of Internet crime, including the sexual exploitation and abuse of our children, urgently requires high quality, child-engaging Internet safety education programs to prevent harm from occurring in the first place."

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