Internet Filtering - Additional Resources
About Internet Filtering
- A look at Internet Filtering
Technologies
- Manuscript from a conference presentation by Inet-Toolbox on how Internet
Filters work. Also contains a glossary, comparison chart, and linked
references to other web sites on the topic of Internet Filtering.
Digital
Chaperones for Kids: Which Internet filters protect the best? Which
get in the way?- Consumer reports tested a few popular filtering products and found
that while they have improved over the years, they are still not reliable.
However, the report notes that there are pros and cons, and it is up
to parents to decide what is best for their situation.
Filtering
the Internet- Schools need to consider a number of issues surrounding the use of
Internet Filtering products and services. This article notes many of
these issues, and points out some main areas of concern with filtering
systems while not entirely dismissing their use.
Filters
and the Public Library: a legal and policy analysis- Written in 1997 by Mary Minow, a graduate of Stanford Law School who
is also a professional librarian, this lengthy academic article takes
a look at the legal issues surrounding the use of filtering products
and services in libraries. It also contains an extensive bibliography
for further reference.
The Internet
Filter Assessment Project (TIFAP)- Led by professional librarian Karen Schneider, TIFAP was an evaluation
of a variety of filtering products. Although the products have changed
somewhat since the project ended in 1997, the work done by TIFAP is
still looked to as a benchmark in the evaluation of Internet filtering
products. This site goes over the project explaining the history, methodology,
conclusions and provides the list of participants along with links to
filtering products and other sites about Internet filtering. The TIFAP
site does continue to get occasional updates.
Internet Filtering- A discussion surrounding Internet filtering technology and some of
the issues surrounding its application in school and library environments.
Internet Free Expression
Alliance- A non-profit organization dedicated to open access and free speech
on the Internet that provides chronological listings of US cases with
updates covering filtering, ratings systems and censorship. It also
contains news articles, speeches, letters, reports and general resources
on the topic. Although the resources section hasn't been updated since
1998, the news section continues to be maintained.
Net
Safe; Net Smart- Provided by the Canadian Library Association, this toolkit has been
designed for libraries to help develop policy, train staff, and assist
with public education programs on Internet use and safety..
Resolution
on the Use of Internet Filters- The American Library Association's official position on the use of
filtering products and services in libraries adopted in July of 1997.
Texas
Internet Service Providers Association (TISPA)- Texas State law requires all Internet Service Providers link to vendors
of Internet filtering and blocking products. TISPA has not only done
that, but has also included an extensive list of additional links to
safe surfing/parent handbooks as alternatives to filtering, reviews,
advice and experiences with filtering products and services, and how
to evaluate quality on the Web.
Ratings Systems
- Platform for Internet
Content Selection (PICS)
- The official site for the PICS rating system. Developed in conjunction
with the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), PICS is applied by web authors
and built into their own pages as a form of "self rating".
The PICS system can also interact with some browsers to "filter"
Web content at the desktop level. The site contains information about
the PICS rating system, instructions for self-rating, Frequently asked
Questions, and gives links to other resources (pro and con) surrounding
the use of the PICS system.
Internet Content
Rating Association- The RSACi, which worked to develop a rating system for web content,
has now merged into the ICRA. The RSACi originally developed a system
for rating recreational software (computer games) but later extended
the system for use on rating web content. It is also a self-rating system
but is slightly less complex than PICS to understand. The site contains
information about the system and how it should be used, instructions
for self-rating and links to press releases and reports surrounding
the use of the rating system.
Criteria
- SafeSurf
- The rating criteria behind SafeSurf filtering products.
BESS- Categories used by the BESS filtering service.
SurfWatch- SurfWatch is now SurfControl, which uses CyberPatrol.
CyberPatrol- The filtering criteria for the CyberPatrol filtering software.
Vendors
- Where
to get filtering software
- A list of vendors who provide filtering and blocking software.
Updated: January 2003, Additions: January 2003
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