WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, May 5) -- Saying "there are some free-fire zones and red-light districts in cyberspace," Vice President Al Gore -- joined by consumer activists, Internet company executives and lawmakers of both parties -- announced a new plan Wednesday to help parents keep their kids away from violent or hate-filled Web sites.

"We understand that the Internet's stunning technology gives children and families access to an incredible world of information and, like life itself, most of it's great," Gore said. "But there are some dark corners, there are some free-fire zones and red-light districts in cyberspace from which children must be protected."

Vice President Al Gore announced Wednesday a plan to keep kids from seeing violent or hate-filled sites on the Internet

Spurred on by the public perception that the two high school seniors who killed themselves, 13 of their classmates and a teacher in Littleton Colorado, were influenced by both Web sites and violent video games, Gore said: "All of us have an obligation as Americans to ... change our lives in order to honor those who died at Columbine High School.

"One of the very first industries to come forward in its effort to keep that promise is the Internet industry ... I'm very impressed with what this industry is committing to do here today," Gore said.

Public opinion polls have found many Americans blame the Columbine shooting on the Internet, easy access to firearms, violent TV shows and video games and bad parenting.

"The industry is today creating a new parents' protection page which will appear on virtually every Internet starting point, automatically, by this July," Gore said.

The new page will tell parents how to time, track and restrict their children's Web access. It will also provide safety tips for youngsters and parents interested in surfing the Internet, and a section explaining how to report online crimes or other troubling activity.

Many major Internet companies have signed on to the plan, including America Online, AT&T, At Home Network, Bell Atlantic, Commercial Internet Exchange, Disney Online, Excite, Lycos, MCI World Com, Microsoft, Network solutions, Netscape, Mindspring Enterprises, Prodigy Communications, and Yahoo.

"As a result of what the Internet service providers and the related companies in the industry are doing today, 95-plus-percent of all Internet users will automatically get a pop-up page every time they go the Internet that will show them, in very easy steps, how they can provide their children with the maximum protection," Gore said.

In addition, the Internet companies have agreed to provide primary financial support for a marketing campaign for the new guide.

Some critics argue for even tougher restrictions for Web content, complaining that Web publishers are hiding behind free-speech rights.

But civil liberties advocates counter that the voluntary plan balances both free-speech concerns and the need to protect children from violence.

"From a group that cares about civil liberties and cares about kids, this is the right answer," says Alan Davidson, staff counsel for the Center for Democracy and Technology, an Internet civil liberties group based in Washington.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Wednesday, May 5, 1999

• Gore says Internet limits 'honor the lives' of school victims
• Poll: New Hampshire voters support Bush over Gore
• Federal government prepares financial aid for tornado victims
• Willey: I told Steele "many many times" about Clinton incident
• Kerrey: Senate report on Clinton-China ties no 'love letter'
• Mob lawyer tops Vegas mayor's race
• Senators grill nuclear lab chiefs on security
• Consumer groups deride new bare-bones insurance plans
• Agencies don't track actual costs of Y2K, report says
• 'Kinetic' Kasich seeks presidency
• Holbrooke U.N. nomination clears another hurdle
• Kosovo money fight resurrects Central America aid bill
• Senate bill would increase supervision of class-action suits
• Sen. Specter targets baseball exemption

ARCHIVES