In a digital world, children still need protection as they are encouraged to learn

22nd October 2004 Digital Home & HF Workshop - STF266

In a digital world, children still need protection as they are encouraged to learn

Anne Clarke

STF266 Leader


Children are not adults

A time of growth, learning risk taking, in a safe environment

Children do not have the skills of adults physical dexterity, strength in keyboard

manipulation hearing and sight easily damaged socially, emotionally, psychologically immature


Pressures on children

they need to, and want to learn

they are seen as just another sector of the market not just in ICTs

the Web today is an unsafe place for children “...no one in their right mind would allow children access to the

Internet....”• Prof Nick Hine, STF266 Team Member


eEurope 2005

eInclusion all users as part of the digital world

All schools to have Web access education and research

Museums, libraries involved in e-learning to be connected to broadband networks

Children under 12 are being encouraged to be full participants in the information society supervised and unsupervised


The market for ICT products and services to pre-teen children is a

protected market


Why is the Web unsafe for children?

designed and built as a technology experiment Vint Cerf’s original 1974 paper does not say anything about

users

Opportunities for misuse, and abuse, at all levels virus, worm, spam identity fraud, misrepresentation

• some see misrepresentation as a useful benefit– e.g. Sherry Turkle, Life on the Screen, 1996

adults cannot exercise effective control of this misuse how can we expect children to do so?


“We simply cannot allow children to have uncontrolled access to ICT products and services which are designed for adults. The consequences are too awful to contemplate”

Prof. Susan Greenfield Neuroscientist and renowned brain researcher

Radio interview 14th August 2004


Web access in the home

there are even greater risks for children parents insufficiently aware of dangers

• this is not about the technologically well educated parent

Safety, security concerns are growing e.g. the case for the damage caused by violence on TV,

and in video games is conclusive


Home Networks

Use of advanced ICT products growing Wireless LANs, Bluetooth internetworking between phones, mobile devices, PCs, TV,

audio devices

Current products offer insufficient safety, security for unmonitored use by children under 12

New services, without at the same time increased levels of security features, is not sufficient


What do children need in their homes?

A safe Internet-type environment automatic controls to prevent misuse

Protection from abuse from spam, identity fraud etc

An ‘opt-in’ system the default must be opt out demonstrated competence by the user required before the

strong controls are reduced• can’t be an assumption based solely on age


ETSI's role

STF201 was the first to identify the issues in this sector

SFF266 is producing guidelines for the design and deployment of ICT products and services for use by children under 12

A new proposal will deal with guidance to service providers on all aspects of deployment and provisioning legal and contractual issues customer services essential guidance service providers must give with

products and services for children under 12


Further information

STF201

STF266

Anne M Clarke - [email protected]

http:portal.etsi.org/STFs/HF/STF266.asp

In a digital world, children still need protection as they are encouraged to learn

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