---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 08:17:19 -0700 (PDT) From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com> To: fight-censorship@vorlon.mit.edu Subject: SPA statement and RSAC release Statement by Ken Wasch, President, Software Publishers Association PR News Wire via Dow Jones White House Forum: Children on the Internet WASHINGTON, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement by Ken Wasch, President of the Software Publishers Association: "The software industry recognizes -- and understands -- the legitimate concerns of parents, educators, the President and Vice President, legislators and other citizens about the content and suitability of many Internet sites for our children. We believe parents should have the opportunity, and readily available tools, to monitor -- and block -- objectionable online content. "Today's White House Forum is an important step in highlighting this issue by bringing together a diverse group of concerned organizations and individuals to focus on what must be done. SPA appreciates the invitation of the President and the Vice President to represent the software industry at this forum. However, after we leave the White House, the responsibility of marrying freedom of speech with these legitimate concerns falls on the shoulders of the software industry. The software industry develops the tools and products that, in turn, can put a brown wrapper around objectionable material on the Internet. Others may talk; the software industry must act. "Understanding its responsibility, the software industry several years ago helped establish a process of self-regulation and content ratings through the Recreational Software Advisory Council (RSAC). Today, RSAC, through its Internet ratings system -- RSACi -- has assigned objective content labels to more than 35,000 online sites in just 12 months. RSACi is now the world's leading Internet content ratings system, empowering parents everywhere to block online content they believe offensive. It is important to keep in mind that 'Truth in Packaging' has nothing to do with suppression of content. RSACi is a labeling system, not a system of censorship. "At today's White House Forum, the success of RSACi as an effective, no-cost tool for concerned parents was highlighted. It is no coincidence that two of this nation's largest corporations have committed to using the RSACi ratings system in their online efforts. SPA and the software industry congratulate Disney -- with its strong family emphasis -- and IBM on their decisions to work with RSAC. We know others will join them. Then RSACi will become the universal ratings standard, allowing everyone everywhere to benefit from the exciting world of the Internet, without the inhibition of state-imposed regulation or censorship." SPA is the leading trade association of the software industry, representing 1,200 leading publishers as well as start-up firms developing software applications and tools for use on the desktop, the Internet, and client-server networks. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RECREATIONAL SOFTWARE ADVISORY COUNCIL WELCOMES IBM AS CORPORATE SPONSOR IBM Supports RSAC Initiative to Provide Self-Regulation of Internet Content Washington, D.C. -- July 16, 1997 The Recreational Software Advisory Council (RSAC) today announced that IBM has become a corporate sponsor of RSAC the non-profit organization committed to providing Internet users with detail regarding web site content. IBM is contributing $100,000 to RSAC, the non-profit developer of RSACi, the voluntary, non-judgmental content labeling software system that allows consumers and Webmasters to create customized filters of online content. "The astounding popularity and growth of the Internet has brought about its greatest challenge -- controlling the flow of content that some feel is inappropriate for children, students, or corporate staff. RSAC's goal has never been to restrict the act of free speech, but rather to allow free speech while simultaneously empowering consumers to control the content to which they're exposed," commented Stephen Balkam, executive director of RSAC. "We're very pleased to be working with IBM to continue our effort to make the Internet fun and safe for everyone." "Effective technology complements the efforts of parents and teachers in monitoring children's' use of the Internet," said John Patrick, IBM's Vice President, Internet technology. "IBM is committed to providing parents and educators with the tools to help children leverage the Internet appropriately. We are proud to be working with RSAC in creating an Internet environment that is consistent with the interests of parents, teachers and children." RSACi, or RSAC on the Internet, is the objective content-labeling advisory system that is fully compliant with the World Wide Web consortium's industry standard for web content rating, the Platform for Internet Content Selection (PICS). RSACi is a fully-automated system that relies on Webmasters to complete a detailed questionnaire regarding the level, nature and intensity of the sex, nudity, violence or offensive language (vulgar or hate-motivated) found within their web site. The responses given then generate rating tags that -- when posted on the web site -- are read by not only popular browsers (such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer), but by blocking system software (such as MicroSystem's Cyber Patrol), allowing consumers to anticipate Internet content and block any materials they deem inappropriate, or offensive. To date, the RSACi content advisory system has been used to rate more than 35,000 web sites -- and it is anticipated that this number will grow to more than 120,000 in the coming year. "It's our opinion that the IBM sponsorship -- together with the recent formation of the International Ratings Working Group at the Bonn Ministerial Conference -- will lead to a four-fold increase in rated sites over the next calendar year," commented Stephen Balkam. IBM has been a leader in developing and supporting standard content filtering programs and technologies for years. In addition to sponsoring RSAC, IBM contributed to the development of PICS within the W3C earlier this year. IBM also ships NetVista, an Internet server designed for educational institutions that helps teachers integrate the Web directly into the classroom while filtering inappropriate content. IBM, the world's largest software provider, creates, develops and manufactures the industry's most advanced information technologies, including computer systems, software, networking systems, storage devices and microelectronics. IBM offers complete information about the company, its products, services and technology on the World Wide Web at http://www.ibm.com. For more information about IBM Software to go to the IBM Software home page at http://www.software.ibm.com. The Recreational Software Advisory Council is an independent, non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C, that empowers the public, especially parents, to make informed decisions about electronic media by means of an open, objective, content advisory system. The RSACi system provides consumers with information about the level of sex, nudity, violence, offensive language (vulgar or hate-motivated) in software games and Web sites. To date, RSACi has been integrated into Microsoft's browser, Internet Explorer, and MicroSystem's Cyber Patrol Software. CompuServe (US and Europe) has also committed to rate all its content with the RSACi system. More information on RSAC and the RSACi rating system is available at http://www.rsac.org. # # #