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New book on the state of internet filtering worldwide

Web proxies are almost as old as the Internet itself as a means to route Web traffic through an anonymous domain name or circumvent content-filters, and they've long been the territory of corporate networks and the tech savvy seeking privacy. Nowadays, an increasing number of teenagers are setting up proxies on home PCs to sidestep school filtering traps, in addition to using free proxies set up on the Web, according to technologists at schools and at content-filtering technology providers.

"Internet filters in schools often compromise a teacher's ability to teach, yet at the same time are easy for tech-savvy students to get around, a parliamentary committee on cyberbullying has heard. The Federal Parliament undertook a cyber-safety committee late last week to investigate community concerns about protecting children from bullying online and the measures that could be used to prevent it, such as Internet filtering."

As children go back to school, many parents are concerned about how their children will be using the computer and Internet devices in the classroom. Communication is key. Parents need to talk with their children about how to use the Internet safely, potential threats and appropriate usage of the Internet. By understanding both the benefits and the risks of Internet use, families can have a safer and more secure online experience. This article includes key tips on cyberbullying, internet safety, privacy and security.

When schools first established on-ramps for the information superhighway, the common wisdom was that "filters would protect children as they use the Internet." I never bought into that myth. My position has always been that the best filtering software sits under the hardware that rides on top of the shoulders.

An effective school-based strategy to address the issue of online safety should include these six key components:
EDUCATIONAL USE - Schools must ensure that when students use the Internet, their activities have an educational purpose -- class assignments, extra credit work, and perhaps some high quality enrichment activities as a reward
SUPERVISION AND MONITORING Schools must shift focus from reliance on filtering to better supervision and monitoring.
MEANINGFUL CONSEQUENCES Misuse of the Internet must lead to a meaningful consequence -- but it should be recognized that suspension of Internet access privileges just causes more work for teachers. Requiring a service contribution to the school and establishing "close monitoring status" for all Internet use are preferable consequences.
ACCIDENTAL ACCESS TO PORN - All students and staff must know that if inappropriate material appears, they should quickly turn off the monitor or turn it so it can't be seen, and then report it. Following any incident or discovery, there must be a responsible assessment of culpability.
INAPPROPRIATE BLOCKING Selected staff in every school building must have the authority and ability to quickly override the filter to provide other staff or students access to sites that have been inappropriately blocked
INTERNET SAFETY AND RESPONSIBLE USE EDUCATION Schools must provide effective Web 2.0 Internet safety and responsible use education to students and parents.

Flash video tutorials from GetNetWise on family internet safety topics like turning on filtering, making social networks more private, using WiFi, monitoring cookie files, hiding browser history information, spyware and spam filtering.

From Andy Carvin's PBS Blog. Many advocates of filtering policies insist than an educator may ask to have a site unblocked when it needs to be used in the classroom. But very few teachers have the ability to either get this done promptly by the filter's administrators, or the authority to do it themselves.

Community 'moderated' DNS level web filter applied to broadband router sure keeps pc-offspring-'hackers' well filtered (until they discover reset button on router -- mmm perhaps keeping broadband provider instructions for router somewhere safe would be a good idea).

By mandating schools restrict internet access, CIPA and other federal and state legislation intend to guard students' safety online-but all they may be doing is keeping vital educational technology out of the classroom. No one disputes the need to protect kids from the harm that lurks online. What's at issue is whether or not mandated internet filters are the best way to achieve those safeguards-or whether the filters aren't up to the task and are actually interfering with the educational mission by obstructing use of important Web 2.0 tools.

The company will provide content blockers that allow parents to prevent their children from accessing certain content, application filters to keep children from using software and will empower parents with time limiting tools to control time spent on various Internet activities.

New safety rules from Telestra aim to give parents a tool in the fight against cyber bullying, with many struggling to understand what they can do to protect their children.Families should learn how to report cyberbullying and to work on building trust about discussing online problems. The article gives five suggestions for how adults can become an internet parent:
Familiarize yourself - talk with your child about their use of the internet.
Explore - websites and technologies yourself.
Restrict inappropriate content and consider parental controls such as filtering.
Talk to your child and encourage open communication
Know - be aware of the potential dangers and know where to report potentially illegal or inappropriate behaviour online.

Very interesting post by Dan Shareski on the connections between parents, school districts, students and the internet.

podcast outlining a parent's fears about non filtering of Facebook at school

Discussion between parents and children is the best way to create trust. But computer use especially by new users can not be expected to be "private" from their parents. Filtering has its place, but should be used to generate trust and not access blame or perjorative measures. Students will always find a way to circumvent filtering and internet restriction. What are you're opinions? Has anyone used PC Pandora 6? Ray http://www.google.com/profiles/Raymond.WM.Lai#buzz

The International Olympic Committee failed to press China to allow fully unfettered access to the Internet for the thousands of journalists arriving here to cover the Olympics, despite promising repeatedly that the foreign news media could "report freely" during the Games, Olympic officials acknowledged Wednesday.

Pupils given a greater degree of freedom to surf the internet at school are less vulnerable to online dangers in the long-term, inspectors say. "Managed" online systems were more successful than "locked" ones at safeguarding pupils' safety, they said. The inspectors' research was commissioned in response to a report by Dr Tanya Btron, which assessed the risks children faced when using the internet and video games.

This morning, a student sent me a link to an article describing the Internet crackdown occurring as official China has 'prepared' for the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. "Looks like schools aren't the only place Facebook is blocked," read the text across my inbox.

Parental controls provide one or more of five main functions: content filtering; use restrictions; contact management; privacy protections; and monitoring. This guide provides helpful info for parents on controls for Internet, Mobile Phones, Gaming Consoles and Media Players.

School Family Media, a leading resource for parent teacher groups in the United States, has selected Symantec, the world's leading Internet security company and maker of Norton, as its partner in keeping America's schoolchildren and their families safe online. . Through this partnership, Symantec will reach thousands of parent teacher organization (PTO) and parent teacher association (PTA) groups across the country to deliver educational messages and resources dedicated to raising awareness of Internet safety -- just in time for the new school year.

The Acceptable Use Policy should state that written parental consent is required before any student is given access to the Internet or to electronic mail. There needs to be a signature form for parents and students to sign indicating that they have read, understand and intend to abide by the school's Acceptable Use Policy. Sample permission forms are included for elementary, middle and high school.