From...

May 17, 1999
Web posted at: 12:42 p.m. EDT (1642 GMT)

by Jana Sanchez

LONDON (IDG) -- A group of mainly Europe-based companies have formed an industry association with the goal of establishing and promoting a global Internet content rating system.

The companies, including AOL Europe, British Telecommunications PLC, Cable & Wireless PLC, T-Online GmbH, Bertelsmann Foundation, Microsoft Corp. and IBM, have formed the nonprofit Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA) to protect children and free speech rights simultaneously, the companies said in a statement. The association is seeking additional members.

The system is to be based on the Recreational Software Advisory Council's RSACi content rating system, which evaluates content for nudity, sex, language and violence. The system will be a voluntary, self-rating one and will use a rating mechanism already embedded in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser software and Netscape Communications Corp.'s Navigator browser.

In order to develop the system, ICRA will consult with advocates for children and consumers, as well as other interested parties, the group said.