IETF / RFC / GNU filtering software / and Internet Accep

[CMUNSON]

     What a wonderful idea Brian! Can we call this ratings body the 
     Ministry of Internet Information? Can we set up the Internet thought 
     police? I suggest that this body be staffed by people from government 
     and corporations. That way they could eliminate all those pesky 
     grassroots sites like McSpotlight, which attempts to provide 
     information on McDonalds. Also, we should put representatives from all 
     the media moguls on it, like Newhouse and Murdoch's corp, in order to 
     make sure the advantages in news providing that the corporations enjoy 
     in print and TV extend into cyberspace. Wouldn't want anything 
     deviating from the official line now would we?
     
     This is such a ludicrous idea. This is obviously proposed by somebody 
     who has no interest in participatory democracy and free speech. We 
     only have free speech when everybody has an ability to say something, 
     free of any "official" filters. And what would constitute a 
     "qualified" authority? What about those of us who want nothing to do 
     with any of this, would deny the authority of any such body, and would 
     want unfiltered access to the Internet? Would this standards body rate 
     us against our will? Would this mean that a non-complying web site 
     would get knocked of the information autobahn?
     
     This is quite scary, to be coming across a librarian list.
     
     Chuck


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: IETF / RFC / GNU filtering software / and Internet Accepted
Author:  Brian Horakh <bhorakh at ci.escondido.ca.us> at Internet
Date:    6/12/97 8:11 PM


Does anybody know of any attempts to have some sort of 
standardization by an Internet body? How about any attempts to
develop a list of sites that should be filtered (or even a ratings list of 
sites, from safe to offensive?) -- An even better solution would be 
something along the lines of some software available for free
distribution on the Internet under the GNU license? Something that 
vendors like Netscape and Microsoft could endorse/support -- perhaps 
an extension to HTTP? Or some type of a giant proxy filter? Is anybody
else interested in exploring these possibilities, and possible designing a 
solution to these problems? (Even perhaps to the extent of developing
the software?) -- 
     
The reason for this type of solution is it would take away the "pointing 
fingers game" (eg: my software does this, and yours does that.) Also 
could create a "Information Police" as a Internet appointed non-partisan 
body to rate the content -- websites could check their rating, and be 
allowed to contest their ratings (both via Email and/or possibly in 
person?) -- I could see this concept widely accepted as long as the board 
was comprised of qualified people in the areas of education, and industry 
analysts. Of course a mission statement might be easier :)
     
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