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Introduction
The Internet offers content on a vast range of subjects across websites.
Such content often include sexually explicit images, violence, gambling,
alcohol advertising, ideological extremism, etc. Although it has
been an ongoing effort, it is quite difficult to contain/ restrict
the availability of such content on websites.
IceNet's Position
IceNet supports the concern of parents, society and Government of
India to make Internet access an educational and family-friendly
experience. To meet this end, IceNet has set certain business ethics
and has launched a number of educational measures.
The business ethics of IceNet, in congruence with the statutory
laws of the Union of India, discourages and/ or prohibits usage
of its network, data center and application development services
for:
| (1) |
Accessing
of website that may contain material considered inappropriate
(i.e. any material which is lascivious or appeal to the prurient
interest or if its effect is such as to tend to deprave and
corrupt persons who are likely, having regard to all relevant
circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained or
embodied in it). |
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| (2) |
Publishing
of any website that may contain material deemed offensive, provocative
or pornographic. |
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| (3)
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Design
and development of any website that may require usage of material
deemed offensive, provocative or pornographic |
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However
it is known that many national governments and service providers
thereof do not prohibit publishing or subscribing to such material
on the World Wide Web, as they consider it against the spirit of
freedom of expression. This has led to wide and easy availability
of websites that contain information of pornographic, derogatory,
derisive or racial nature. In such a situation parental supervision
of Internet surfing by the children is strongly advised.
In aid of this cause IceNet has introduced a list of educational
initiatives including:
(1) Newsletters to clients on the ill effects of cyber pornography
on minors
(2) Banner campaign on protecting children from viewing inappropriate
content
(3) Online remedial measures at the websites of Net4India
(4) Availability of software for filtering Internet content
Content Screening Methods
To help parents, those seeking to supervise their children's Internet
access, a number of filtering methods are available. Some of the
filtering methods are directly available on popular Internet browsers
like Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. Such
filters screen out objectionable content by using industry-standard
ratings that have been defined independently by the Platform
for Internet Content Selection (PICS) committee.
To make the filtering process more effective, stand-alone software
are also available. These are software that run together with an
Internet access program and blocks access to whatever type of content
the parent believes inappropriate for their child. In this category
are products such as Surfwatch and Cyber Patrol, as well as Cybersitter,
NetNanny, etc. While most of these products are priced, certain
free-download
versions are also available.
A third kind of screening is available in the form of online
services. On subscribing to such a service, all Internet browsing
is channeled through the screening service provider's computers.
Each page requested by the browser is checked against a constantly
updated list of blacklisted websites before being passed on for
viewing.
Although there is no 100% guaranteed method, usage of the browser
filters in conjunction with software or online screening services
have proved to limit access to such inappropriate content. In addition,
an increasing number of child-safe Internet sites offer positive
guidance toward online
resources that are especially useful for children.
Abuse Reporting
IceNet runs an abuse reporting service that can be used for informing
the Company of any website that parents feel are objectionable and
are hosted using IceNet's servers or data center. IceNet would review
such sites and take appropriate action. Reporting of abuse can be
made only in writing to abuse@IceNet.net can call on Cyber Crime
Investigations Cell (CCIC) of Mumbai Police on 022-2630829.
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