Computer Ethics and Legal Issues : Internet Filtering Process

INTERNET FILTERING

It is our responsibility to ensure that the teenagers are protected from these corruptions of the mind by filtering access to the Internet. Internet filtering is a process that prevents or blocks access to certain materials on the Internet.

It is our responsibility to ensure that the teenagers are protected from

these corruptions of the mind by filtering access to the Internet.

What is Internet filtering?

Internet filtering is a process that prevents or blocks access to certain

materials on the Internet. Filtering is most commonly used to prevent

children from accessing inappropriate material and to keep employees

productive on the Internet.

CONTROLLING ACCESS TO THE INTERNET

Controlling access to the internet by means of filtering software has become a growing industry in Malaysia and elsewhere. Its use has increase as the mandatory response to the current plague of society, namely internet pornography, politically incorrect site, hatred, violence, hate and in general anything viewed to be unpleasant or threatening. 

The current preferred method of choice to limit access on the Internet is to filter content either by:

• keyword blocking
• site blocking
• web rating systems

These methods require software to be installed at a client of server level.

KEYWORD BLOCKING

One of the strategies is by using the keyword blocking method. This method uses a list of banned words or objectionable terms.

As the page is downloading, the filter searches for any of these words. If found, it will block the page completely, stop downloading the page, block the banned words and even shut down the browser.

SITE BLOCKING

• software company maintains a list of ‘dubious Internet sites’
• the software prevents access to any sites on this list
• ‘denial lists’ regularly updated
• some software provides control over what categories of information you block
• Who decides what goes on the ‘denial list’ and what criteria are they using?
• can you keep track of the whole of the Internet?
• filters can use both site blocking and word blocking

WEB RATING SYSTEMS

Web sites are rated in terms of nudity, sex, violence and language. The Recreational Software Advisory Council (RSACI) is responsible for the rating of the websites on the content on the internet.

• ratings done either by the web page author or by the independent bureau.
• browsers set to only accept pages with certain levels of ratings.
  
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  Others Lesson : | click lesson to view |
  
• Define Computer Ethics, Code of Ethics, Intellectual Property, Privacy, Computer Crime and Cyber Law.
• Differentiate between ethics and law.
• State the need for intellectual property laws
• List ways to protect privacy.
• State authentication and verification methods/ technologies
• List Controversial Content and effects of controversial contents on society
• Describe the process of filtering to control access to controversial contents
• Explain the need for Cyber Law
• Explain briefly the computer crimes