[LM_NET] No Dopa This...

[Art Wolinsky <awolinsky@OII.ORG>]

Below is the text of my podcast at http://www.3dwriting.com/wiredsafety/blog

Yesterday I was part of a Congressional briefing session on Internet 
Safety. When I was contacted to attend, my initial reaction was to 
ask if it had anything to do with DOPA, because if it did my 
commentary would simple. The name says it all.

To my relief, it had nothing to do with DOPA and is actually (IMHO) 
something good coming out of DC.

The session was a round table conducted by Democratic Representative 
Melissa Bean from IL and Bart Stupak from MI.

At the table were representatives from iSafe, the National Center for 
Missing and Exploited Children, and WiredSafety.

The discussion was wide ranging and included social networking, child 
porn, cyber bullying and less "glamorous" issues such as phishing and 
identity theft.

We took a look at some of the problems, what is being done about 
them, and what can be done.

The session was in part conducted to raise awareness in the media and 
public for Representative Bean's SAFER NET Act (H.R.4982).

If it is passed, the merits of the bill will be witnessed by its 
implementation, but from what I see, it is a big step in the right 
direction. It seeks to establish and Office of Internet Safety and 
Public Awareness.

Rather than seeking to regulate with the ineffective and restrictive 
broad brush strokes of DOPA, this bill seeks to identify exemplary 
programs and best practices, coordinates efforts of diverse 
organizations, promotes a national public service campaign, and 
provides grants to state and local governments.

In Representatives Bean and Stupak, I see two people who are 
genuinely concerned about Internet safety. How much DC politics will 
impact the implementation is something we'll have to wait and see, 
but DOPA it's not! I have my fingers crossed.

To see the bill in it's entirety, go to congress.gov and search by 
bill number or sponsor.


Art Wolinsky
OEO 3DWriting.com
Technology Director - Online Internet Institute
Educational Technology Director - WiredSafety.org
awolinsky@3dwriting.com
(609) 698-8223 (Home Office)
(609) 618-4433 (Cell)

I am perfectly capable of learning from my mistakes.
I will surely learn a great deal today.

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