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

1. In a digital world, children still need protection as they are encouraged to learn Anne Clarke STF266 Leader Digital Home & HF Workshop - STF266

2. 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 Digital Home & HF Workshop - STF266

3. 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 Digital Home & HF Workshop - STF266

4. 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 Digital Home & HF Workshop - STF266

5. The market for ICT products and services to pre-teen children is a protected market Digital Home & HF Workshop - STF266

6. 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? Digital Home & HF Workshop - STF266

7. “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 researcherRadio interview 14th August 2004 Digital Home & HF Workshop - STF266

8. 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 Digital Home & HF Workshop - STF266

9. 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 Digital Home & HF Workshop - STF266

10. 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 Digital Home & HF Workshop - STF266

11. 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 Digital Home & HF Workshop - STF266

12. Further information STF201 STF266 Anne M Clarke - Clarkeam@compuserve.com http:portal.etsi.org/STFs/HF/STF266.asp Digital Home & HF Workshop - STF266