Internet filtering, parental controls remain ISP challenge, opportunity

In a much watched and at times criticized move, the Australian government has proposed implemented a nationwide Internet “filter” to protect users, particularly children, from inappropriate content and contact.

Monday, a group of Internet companies including Yahoo, Facebook and Microsoft told the Australian Federal parliament that while more needs to be done to improve safety online, private-sector efforts and user education are preferable to government intervention.

At the hearing, Facebook said it was pulling down 20,000 pages a day created by users who lied about being age 13 or older, the social media site’s cut-off age to join. Whether that fact represents evidence that private sector vigilance is working, or that the problem is so large it needs government oversight, probably depends on how one looks at it.

Facebook’s chief privacy advisor, Mozelle Thompson told the committee, “I would hate for the public to get the wrong impression that there is a quick technological solution for inappropriate content, because there isn’t.”
Indeed, critics argue that government filtering of Internet content can quickly go too far. Google has criticized the Australian government’s attempts:

"Some limits, like child pornography, are obvious. No Australian wants that to be available and we agree," Google said. "But moving to a mandatory ISP-level filtering regime with a scope that goes well beyond such material is heavy-handed and can raise genuine questions about restrictions on access to information."

Internet filtering and parental control applications have long been on the radar of Internet Service Providers. But they are extremely difficult to implement effectively – let alone be effectively “administered” by parents, who must keep on top of their children’s online activities whether or not they are aided in that effort by a software application.

That’s what makes Australia’s debate on the topic so interesting. Protecting children online remains as important as ever. ISPs should provide technology-based options when they can, and help educate users every step of the way – if only to keep the government out of the Internet filtering game.