Berkman Center Announces Request for Technical Submissions Related to Child Safety on the Internet

    CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 15 /EMWNews/ -- On July 2, 2008,

the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University formally

announced a Request for Technical Submissions as part of the work of the

Internet Safety Technical Task Force. The Task Force will continue to

accept technical submissions until July 21, 2008.



    The Task Force, comprised of leading Internet businesses and

organizations, is focused on identifying effective online safety tools and

technologies that can be used by companies and individuals across multiple

platforms. The Request for Technical Submissions asks companies,

non-profits, and individuals with technologies relevant to child safety

online to submit a detailed description that will enable a thorough review

by the Task Force's Technical Advisory Board.



    Submission instructions are available on the Technical Advisory Board

web page:



    http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/research/isttf/TAB.



    Submissions must be received by July 21, 2008.



    "We are excited to announce this next phase of the work of the Internet

Safety Technical Task Force. We hope to receive many submissions, from

companies and inventors large and small," said John Palfrey, executive

director of the Berkman Center and director of the Task Force. "We are

looking for technical solutions that can have impact right now, as well as

tools that show future promise."



    The Technical Advisory Board will formally review submissions related

to filtering, blocking, parental controls, labeling, rating,

identification, authentication, age verification, imaging, search and

forensics. It will present its evaluations in the final report of the

Internet Safety Task Force, due out in late 2008.



    Members of the Technical Advisory Board include technical experts in

security, safety, imaging and forensics.

    About the Internet Safety Technical Task Force: The Internet Safety

Technical Task Force (ISTTF) is a group of Internet businesses, non-profit

organizations, academics and technology companies that have joined together

to identify effective tools and technologies to create a safer environment

on the Internet for youth. It was created in February 2008 in accordance

with the Joint Statement on Key Principles of Social Networking Safety

announced by the Attorneys General Multi-State Working Group on Social

Networking and MySpace in January 2008. The Task Force issues quarterly

reports to the Attorneys General and will release a Final Report on

December 31, 2008. More information is available at

http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/research/isttf.



    About the Berkman Center for Internet & Society: The Berkman Center for

Internet & Society is proud to celebrate its tenth year as a research

program founded to explore cyberspace, share in its study and help pioneer

its development. Founded in 1997, through a generous gift from Jack N. and

Lillian R. Berkman, the Center is now home to an ever-growing community of

faculty, fellows, staff and affiliates working on projects that span the

broad range of intersections between cyberspace, technology and society.

More information can be found at http://cyber.law.harvard.edu.