Comments on: Internet Safety Technical Task Force releases final report

By: Some Thoughts on FTC’s Proposed COPPA Revisions

Some Thoughts on FTC’s Proposed COPPA Revisions — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 04:20:30 +0000

[...] I’m being a bit paranoid here. But when I was serving on the Harvard Berkman Center online child safety task force a few years ago, I saw all sorts of online verification schemes pitched to us, some of which would [...]

By: some new info about kids and the internet

some new info about kids and the internet — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:03:09 +0000

[...] that there is no risk, but rather that the risk is a heck of a lot less than we’ve heard. Adam Thierer (one of the members of ISTTF) points out that we need a more nuanced approach than simple age verification. It’s a “magic [...]

By: Son of COPA?: H.R. 4059, “The Online Age Verification and Child Safety Act” — Technology Liberation Front

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:22:22 +0000

[...] Many, many times here before I have documented my serious ongoing reservations about mandatory age verification. [In particular, see this lengthy white paper and this event transcript for all the details.] Moreover, as I pointed out in a recent PFF white paper (”Five Online Safety Task Forces Agree: Education, Empowerment & Self-Regulation Are the Answer“), every major online safety task force that has studied the possibility of mandatory age verification for the Internet has come to the same conclusion: It won’t work, it’s unconstitutional, and it raises serious privacy concerns. Down below the fold I have pulled some of the relevant language from the five online safety task forces that have met since 2000 and considered this issue. Some of the very best minds in academia, industry, government, and the child safety community sat on these task forces. And, taken together, these five task forces heard from hundreds of experts and produced thousands of pages of testimony and reports on a wide variety of issues related to online child safety. [...]

By: Good Vibrations Magazine » Blog » some new info about kids and the internet

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:02:29 +0000

By: ayme

ayme — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:13:32 +0000

many ways to bypass ageverification, what we need is seperate layers on the internet. 1 dedicated layer for all adult sites.

By: ayme

ayme — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:13:32 +0000

many ways to bypass ageverification, what we need is seperate layers on the internet. 1 dedicated layer for all adult sites.

By: ayme

ayme — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:13:32 +0000

many ways to bypass ageverification, what we need is seperate layers on the internet. 1 dedicated layer for all adult sites.

By: ayme

ayme — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:39:18 +0000

if adult was on a seperate layer , like hxxp, it would of been easier to block a layer for minors

By: ayme

ayme — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:35:44 +0000

if the net was seperated in several layers like we now have, like http, ftp, and for example hxxp for adult , then separation would of been easier restricting minors from accessing the adult layer

By: NTIA names Online Safety Technical Working Group members | The Technology Liberation Front

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:06:58 +0000

[...] and I look forward to continuing the work started last year with the Harvard Berkman Center’s Internet Safety Technical Task Force (ISTTF), which I also served on. I was very proud of the work done by the ISTTF and the [...]

By: free check

free check — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:37:42 +0000

something more serious must be done about it. I don't think any “age verification” systems would ever protect my children from all that dirt on the Internet.. just so sorry there is so much dirt online..

By: Illinois Legislation on Social Networking « Nancy Willard’s Weblog

Illinois Legislation on Social Networking « Nancy Willard’s Weblog — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:39:34 +0000

[...] blog provides excellent analysis of the Berkman Task Force report and links to many other [...]

By: The Future of Sec. 230 and Online Immunity: My Debate with Harvard’s John Palfrey | The Technology Liberation Front

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:49:42 +0000

[...] concerns. At the time, John and I were working together on the Berkman Center’s “Internet Safety Technical Task Force” and we decided to begin an e-mail exchange about the future of 230 and online liability [...]

By: MySpace and Facebook sex predators » Adotas

MySpace and Facebook sex predators » Adotas — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:05:49 +0000

[...] the evidence doesn’t back that view. The report said “a combination of technologies, in concert with parental oversight, education, social [...]

By: Nancy Willard Puts Social Networking Risks in Context | The Technology Liberation Front

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:13:58 +0000

[...] Force (ISTTF) and its final report. [Disclaimer: I was a member of the ISTTF.] I’ve already outlined the ISTTF’s work at length here, but the three key takeaways from the report were [...]

By: Some Great Podcasts about Online Safety & the ISTTF | GrampaSaidSo.com

Some Great Podcasts about Online Safety & the ISTTF | GrampaSaidSo.com — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:37:26 +0000

[...] issues that include comments from members of the Internet Safety Technical Task Force (ISTTF). As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the ISTTF project and final report represent a major milestone in the discussion [...]

By: Some Great Podcasts about Online Safety & the ISTTF | The Technology Liberation Front

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:17:40 +0000

By: Tech Scamps » Report Calls Online Threats to Children Overblown

Tech Scamps » Report Calls Online Threats to Children Overblown — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:39:12 +0000

[...] Internet Safety Technical Task Force releases final report article at The Technology Liberation Front [...]

By: Ryan Radia

Ryan Radia — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:19:38 +0000

Nice overview. Great to see the report reflects your arguments about mandatory age verification and the proper role of government in making parenting decisions. Given the way tech policy has been shaping up lately, it’s refreshing to see a broad consensus on online safety that actually makes sense. The report’s also a forceful rebuke to the 49 AGs that ordered its creation in the first place. Even if it doesn't put the issue to bed entirely——Rick Blumenthal (Connecticut’s AG) is already up in arms, saying that there’s insufficient data to back up the report’s conclusions–it's sure to be a big help in warding off state and federal legislative attempts to mandate age and identity verification.

By: Atilla

Atilla — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:13:25 +0000

Yes conclusions form a report by academics using outdated and sheltered information is a good thing. We can dip our heads summarily in sand and agree with its findings. Hallelujah! We are safe! The report says so.

By: bradencox

bradencox — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:12:44 +0000

Great post, Adam. And congrats to all the hard work you exerted in the task force. For me, the findings show that social networking and content companies are already doing quite a lot to keep minors safe on their sites. They also show online threats from adults are not the only danger -- that youth-on-youth and offline conduct are also critical aspects of child safety. Awareness, education, and parental involvement are crucial to ensuring the online safety of our children.

I'm happy that the report concludes that most kids respond appropriately to online safety threats, but of course there are still at-risk kids out there. Online companies will continue to help at-risk kids by implementing their own solutions, observing industry practices, and working with law enforcement.