RSSWindows Live Safety Settings Unveiled
By Ed Oswald | Published March 14, 2006, 11:09 AM
Microsoft on Tuesday confirmed plans to offer a new service that gives parents more control over the Internet content their children can view without supervision. Called Windows Live Safety Settings, it includes content filtering for the Web, contact list management tools for communication services, and online activity reports.
The program is currently in a limited beta. A version of Live Safety Settings with filtering and reports will be released in summer, with contact management coming by the end of the year, Microsoft said. Both users of Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista would be able to run the application.
Safety settings within the software are based on information provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which are tied to the age of the user. Over and above these guidelines, a parent would also be able to modify these standard settings further.
Microsoft said it was additionally in the process of identifying similar groups in other countries to expand where it offers Live Safety Settings.
"We've heard a universal concern about exposure to unwanted content regardless of age, and Windows Live Family Safety Settings will help here as well," MSN corporate vice president Blake Irving said. "We're providing tools to put people in control so they can explore the Web more safely."
Content filtering features allow users to either choose to "allow," "block" or "warn" for a range of categories, with settings customizable for each member of the household. A parent would be able to adjust these settings from any PC connected to Windows Live.
Activity reports list detailed information on what each family member is visiting, and are accessible from any Windows Live PC. Even further, contact list management would allow the parent to restrict access to a child's Web log or social networking page, and specify who may contact the child via Windows Live communications services like Messenger and Mail.
"The Internet should be considered an ocean with much to discover, and families should be comfortable allowing their children to explore it," AAP CEO Errol Alden, M.D. said. ""But at the same time, there need to be guidelines."
Those interested in signing up for the beta can do so by e-mailing fssalert@microsoft.com.
Filters can never replace a parent. Children should not be online without supervision. The internet should be conciderd rated R.
Children are not dumb, they will find a way around filters. In fact all it would take is poping in a Linux live CD and restarting the computer.
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|Apply a boot password, and use a lockable computer case with a secure key. It couldn't hurt to also place the computer case in a lockable cage of some sort. :)
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|No it doesn't block the Mozilla website
As far as the material that I threw at it, it did a fairly good job of filtering out content. I don't really have a need for it, but it will be useful to some.
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|"The Internet should be considered an ocean with much to discover, and families should be comfortable allowing their children to explore it," AAP CEO Errol Alden, M.D. said. ""But at the same time, there need to be guidelines."
Wrong!
The Internet IS the world. At the very least, a practicable metaphor thereof. It should be treated the same as if you strapped your kids into a vehicle to roam the Earth untethered. Everywhere. Even places like Iraq, Africa, Detroit and Antarctica. There are no enforcable "guideline". Never will be. The parent needs to remain involved and BE the guideline. You can spend your entire life maintaining blocking lists to thwart bad things, but they'll still sneak in if you don't play an active role. Idiots like Dr.
Alden are dangerous to us as they are given creedence by techno-buffoons (read: politicians) who end up forcing painful, costly restrictions on things that don't fit, and ultimately fail.
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|I agree, but parents don't like to parent these days. That is where software like this comes in.
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|I agree but it seems most parents these days perfer to let Norton or McAfee bring up their kids rather than get involved in what interests them and actually try and understand their children.
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|Movies shouldn't be rated? Just make it the parents job? Strip clubs and bars shouldn't have restrictions, should just be up to the parents to make sure they don't enter them?
You can't roam the Earth untethered.
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|I'm all for it so long as they are providing the tools only.
Building it into their browser (Read: OS, eg., Vista) would be allright, even.
But I have a nagging worry that they will try and turn these features on by default.
You just know you're going to install Vista and some content will be blocked by default. And it's not 'censorship' as long as it isn't the government doing it, right?
All in the name of protecting our kids...
And since it's closed source... will we really know all that is being blocked? Of course not.
Ain't it beautiful?
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|Obviously the Firefox home page and Google will be considered adult content by this filter.
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|I am more concerned by what "they" determine to be age appropriate. What values will "they" place upon our own children. There is something to say about having others rear our children. The responsibility needs to fall back on the parents. However, I am in favor of help.
I just feel that this could be seen as more of a censorship(even babysitter) than a helpful tool in that the people that are in control of the content is the AAP. I have seen some doctor's children(even pediatric ones)! The guidelines need to be at least open for review by others as well as the AAP.
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|LOL I doubt it, Mozilla and google would put this in a CBS Special Report and crucify Microsoft if they did such a thing.
I needed the laugh though. Tense day for me today--
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