Congress is expected to hear from a federally created commission studying online child protection that will recommend the establishment of an independent research bureau that would review filtering software possibly push for an Internet zone designed specifically for children.
According to a news report, the commission has toyed with many recommendations for how to keep children safe while not running afoul of privacy and free speech concerns. Age verification techniques, content labeling and education initiatives also are under discussion.
“There is no magic bullet,” Donald Telage, chairman of the Commission on Child Online Protection and a former president of Network Solutions Inc. said in the report.
Web domain categories could be created, like “.kids” reserved for kid-friendly content, the report said.
The panel includes representatives from government, industry – such as The Walt Disney Co., Yahoo! and America Online – and activists like the Washington-based Center for Democracy and Technology.
The group rated all of its possible recommendations on the basis of cost, effectiveness, privacy and First Amendment issues, and other criteria, the report said.
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