SECTION I INDUSTRY EFFORTS
Organization
Name 		Microsoft Corp.
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal
Contact Name John Pinette
Public Relations Group Manager, Microsoft Corp.
425-882-8080

www.microsoft.com

Katie Powell
Manager, Program Services
National Boys and Girls Clubs of America

Program/Project
Description 		"Stay Safe Online": Microsoft, in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, have launched a program to help ensure that children have a positive and safe online experience. The program, named "Stay Safe Online," is supported by a $1.1-million cash and $400,000 hardware and software contribution from Microsoft, and a $1-million commitment from O'Neal to support B&GC technology initiatives. The three strategies used by the program to provide a positive Internet experience are education, adult supervision, and technology. Fifteen pilot technology centers in various Boys and Girls Clubs around the country, fully equipped with PCs, high-speed Internet access, and a wide range of educational software, will test the effectiveness of the program.

"Stay Safe Online" is a 15-minute interactive program created to teach children important Internet safety lessons. Children can gain access to the Internet only by completing the program, and are given a test, which grants them an online safety award and Internet privileges.

The program has developed six simple rules for online safety:

  1. Always be respectful of others.
  2. Never give out personal information.
  3. Always remember that you are responsible for your actions online.
  4. Always follow the computer room supervisor's instructions.
  5. Never agree to meet in person with people you talk to online.
  6. Never visit "off-limits" Web sites. (Further info: www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/ 1999/jun99/BoysGirlsClubPR.htm)
Results Forecast The pilot program will be studied closely by Microsoft and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America to determine its effectiveness, in hopes of offering the program to all Boys and Girls Clubs around the country and in the future on the Web , so that parents, educators, and youth groups can take advantage of the effort.
Organization
Name 		Microsoft Corp.
America Links Up (ALU)
Contact Name John Sampson
Federal Government Affairs Manager
Washington, DC

www.microsoft.com

Program/Project
Description 		"A Kids Online Teach-In": Microsoft joined several companies, schools, and education associations to sponsor a free Internet safety fair organized by America Links Up: "A Kids Online Teach-In." ALU is a nationwide public awareness and education campaign aimed at providing adults and children with the necessary information to help ensure a safe and rewarding online experience. The Internet safety fair, held at Bellevue Community College in Bellevue, Wash., presented demonstrations, speakers, and entertainment that focused on the importance of having safe, rewarding online experiences for both children and parents. Co-sponsors of the Internet Fair and Safety Session were AT&T Corp., Edmark Corp., Family PC, Headbone Interactive Inc., Imagination Unleashed, King County Library System, Microsoft, Net Nanny, The Cyber Station, and the Washington Education Association.

(Further info: www.microsoft.com/SAFEKIDS/ initiatives.htm)

Microsoft has offered other services in support of the ALU campaign:

  • Sponsorship of the America Links Up Web site (www.americalinksup.org), which is designed to be a resource for kids, parents, teachers, and librarians for learning about the safest ways to surf the World Wide Web, and includes tips and hints for staying safe online
  • Donation of $500,000 in free online advertising space to encourage Web surfers to visit the ALU Web site from both Microsoft-related Web sites and the Web sites of other online companies
  • Creation and sponsorship of Online Safety Month in October 1998, which was promoted throughout Microsoft Web sites.
Key Highlights/
Milestones 		"A Kids Online Teach-In":

Speaker Parry Aftab, international cyberspace attorney and executive director of the CyberAngels Internet safety organization, signed free copies of her book, A Parent's Guide to the Internet … And How To Protect Your Children in Cyberspace. Leanne Shirey, writer and Seattle police detective, spoke about the Internet safety classes she designs for parents and law-enforcement personnel. Microsoft employees led hands-on demonstrations of how to book airline tickets and find movie listings on the Web. The Seattle Mariners Moose made an appearance.

In the past school year, hundreds of "teach-ins" based on the ALU curriculum were conducted across the country in schools, libraries, and community centers. Over 75 people attended the King County event. There was a variety of television and press coverage.

Organization
Name 		Microsoft
Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA)
Contact Name John Frank
Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs
Microsoft Europe

Erin Brewer Group PR Manager, International PR
Microsoft Corp.

www.microsoft.com

Program/Project
Description 		International Ratings Organization: Microsoft joined with several Internet companies to form an international organization to protect children and free speech on the Web. The International Content Rating Association (ICRA), based in London, is establishing a content rating system to help make the Internet a safe place for children to visit. The rating system is global, and based on the already established RSACi content rating system that Microsoft helped to develop. Consequently it is embedded in Internet Explorer 5.0. In creating the rating system, ICRA consulted with children's advocates, consumer groups, and universities around the globe. Microsoft played an active role in this as well.

The founders of ICRA include AOL Europe, Bertelsmann Foundation, British Telecom, Cable & Wireless, Demon Internet (UK), EuroISPA, IBM, Internet Watch Foundation, Software & Information Industry Association, and T-Online Germany. Microsoft also supported RSACi, ICRA's predecessor. ICRA has received the RSACi assets including the RSACi system that provides consumers with information about the level of nudity, sex, language, and violence in Web sites.

(Further info: www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/ 1999/05-12icra.htm)

Key Highlights/
Milestones
  • Many of the leading Internet companies agreed to work together to implement a content rating system that is available to families and teachers around the world.
  • Once developed, the new system will be available to all Internet users for free.
  • To date, more than 100,000 Web sites have rated with the ICRA system (formerly known as RSACi), including a majority of the top 100 sites that account for 80 percent of the Web's traffic.
Organization
Name 		Microsoft
Naperville Police Department
Illinois State Attorney General's Office
Contact Name John Sampson
Federal Government Affairs Manager
Washington, DC

www.microsoft.com

Program/Project
Description 		Safety Training Web Site: In February 1999 Microsoft, together with the Naperville Police Department (NPD) and the Illinois State Attorney General's Office, designed and launched a free Web site to help educators and parents teach children the basics of online safety. The Web site, www.microsoft.com/SAFEKIDS, features a presentation on Internet safety and a training guide for teachers. The Internet safety program was presented to the students by representatives from the Naperville Police Internet Crimes unit, who walked the children through Internet safety basics.

Naperville's Police Chief David Dial told teachers and parents: "[The Internet] is a great place where kids can go to explore, learn, and interact with the world -- but before you drop them off to play, you have to be sure they know how to stay safe."

(Further info: www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1999/feb99/ chicagopr.htm; www.microsoft.com/SAFEKIDS)

Key Highlights/
Milestones
  • Naperville Mayor George Pradel talked to students and teachers about the tremendous learning potential the Internet offers to children today.
  • Microsoft, NPD, and the Illinois Attorney General's Internet task force created the SAFEKIDS Web, complete with a presentation on Internet safety and a teacher's training guide.
  • Microsoft published a list of sites offering tips to parents and teachers about online safety.
Organization
Name 		Microsoft
Electravision Inc.
Contact Name www.microsoft.com
Program/Project
Description 		"Kid's Web Camp '97": Microsoft and Electravision Inc. created a four-week summer camp designed to teach kids how to use the Internet safely, and how to use the Web for research and fun. During the four weeks in 1997, cyber-campers learned how to build their own Web pages and use e-mail chat rooms while maintaining privacy and safe Internet practices.

Kid's Web Camp '97 focused on targeting children as the next generation of Web surfers and developers. Other participating organizations included Nintendo Company Ltd., NASA Classroom of the Future Program, National Geographic Society, Yahooligans!, Concentric Network Corp., and Fractal Design Corp.

All campers participated in a curriculum consisting of online, real-time chats, field trips, and scavenger hunts. Cyber-counselors provided help and guidance to the campers throughout the program.

(Further info: www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1997/ Jul97/webcmppr.htm)

Key Highlights/
Milestones
  • 1,000 kids ages 7-12 participated in Microsoft's first Kid's Web Camp.
  • All cyber-campers received $200 in free software, including a Kid's Web Kit (Web creation software just for kids -- CD-ROM and companion book); "Flying Colors" (a children's paint program from Magic Moose); and Microsoft "FrontPage '97" (a Web site creation and management tool).
Organization
Name 		Microsoft
Contact Name www.microsoft.com
Program/Project
Description 		Microsoft Products and Services for Children and Online Safety

Platform for Internet Content Selection (PICS), Internet Explorer Content Advisor, and the Internet Content Rating Association: A free, easy-to-use technology included with Windows that allows parents to limit what their children view online. Since August 1996, Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser has included the Content Advisor parental control made possible through the PICS platform.

MSN: Microsoft's online service educates new members, teachers, and parents about Internet safety with online information areas. MSN makes available a link to non-Microsoft parental control software titles and products currently on the market.

Children's Interactive Software / Online Resources ("My Personal Tutor," Scholastic's "The Magic School Bus," and "Encarta"): This software is dedicated solely to educating children and making learning fun on the Internet.

Web TV's "SurfWatch" and "Kid Friendly Zone": Microsoft's Internet-on-TV product offers these two features that restrict access to mature content on the Internet. SurfWatch is an outside, content-filtering software that prevents access to mature content on the Internet. Kid Friendly is a Web TV service that brings together only content that is relevant to children. Additional security features allow parents to prevent children from sending and receiving e-mail.

Zero Tolerance for Illegal Online Content: When child pornography is brought to our attention and we have control over it, we will remove it from ISP services we support.

Coordination with Law Enforcement: Microsoft has instituted a 24-hour hotline for law enforcement's use in capturing online predators and criminals, and has employed individuals with specialized experience in law enforcement to help combat criminal activity on or via Microsoft's online services.

(Further info: www.microsoft.com/SAFEKIDS/initiatives.htm)

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