|
By Robyn
Weisman, www.NewsFactor.com
Wednesday July
25 01:10 PM EDT
Two co-sponsors of a bill that
would force the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
Numbers (ICANN (news
- web
sites)) to issue a "dot-kids" top-level domain (TLD)
suffix held a press conference on Capitol Hill Tuesday to generate
support for the measure.
U.S. Representatives John Shimkus
(R-Illinois) and Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) criticized ICANN for
rejecting the dot-kids TLD last November. They also urged their
fellow House members to support the bill, which was first
introduced June 28th.
"There's usually a kids'
section in the library," Shimkus told reporters. "We're
attempting to provide a kids' section of the Internet."
"[ICANN] had their
opportunity," he added. "I'm not willing to wait on them
any longer."
Just for Dot-Kids
The Dot Kids Domain Name Act of
2001 (HR 2417) would create a basic structure and regulations for
a dot-kids TLD, requiring that the newly-established TLD be
publicized and that parents be educated in how to filter
inappropriate content. The act would also charge the Department of
Justice (news
- web
sites) (DOJ) with preventing unscrupulous or criminal elements
from preying on kids who access Web sites using the new TLD.
"Dot-kids is a great example
of what can happen when everyone's top priority is the protection
of our children," Illinois state attorney general Jim Ryan
said in a prepared statement issued on July 17th. "In today's
world, protecting our kids on the Internet is vitally
important."
If the bill were passed into law,
ICANN would be forced to develop a dot-kids TLD within the
subsequent 30 days. In addition, the legislation would prevent
ICANN from establishing any new TLDs until dot-kids was fully
implemented.
Skeptical Reaction
Rachel Terrace, an analyst with
Jupiter Media Metrix, told NewsFactor Network that she is
skeptical that Shimkus' and Markey's bill would bring any
improvements, either in protecting children or steering them to
suitable content.
"My gut reaction is that [the
bill] seems unnecessary and duplicative because COPA (the Child
Online Protection Act) already has very strict content and data
[regulations] for kids under the age of 13," Terrace told
NewsFactor. That includes the types of data that can be collected
from children without a parent's permission, and the type of
content allowed to be sent to them, Terrace added.
The COPA commission issued a report
last year that abstained from offering approval to the dot-kids
suffix.
"Also, our research shows that
most children, tweens and under, actually surf with their parents,
either directly or while [the parents] are in the same room,"
said Terrace. "Parents are already closely monitoring their
children's activities, so I don't think that [passing this
legislation] will allay fears any more than what already
exists."
Precursor to Privacy Legislation
Kevin Noonan, vice president of
Internet and media research at the Yankee Group, told NewsFactor
that the battle over the dot-kids suffix could prove to be a
precursor to privacy legislation.
"I have a feeling that a vote
on this would be very close," Noonan said. "It's a great
idea in theory; however, getting the government to legislate it is
more problematic than it seems."
Noonan said he could understand
ICANN's reasons for sidestepping the dot-kids TLD; the
organization would face liability issues and the daunting task of
patrolling dot-kids Web sites to ensure their appropriateness.
"But let's not forget that
children who are online today will be the leaders of
tomorrow," Noonan said. "They're in a sense a test lab,
and it's important that we understand and work to protect them
without [prompting] an overreaching Big Brother effect."
|
