M-Web is to offer subscribers control over what their children access on the Internet from January next year, with a new variable filtering function powered by Symantec. M-Web`s new customisable filtering tools allow for various levels of filtering, controlled by parents.
In announcing the new service, Andrew Milne, GM of M-Web Online, said the parental guidance service was probably a first for an African Internet service provider.
The service is supplied free with M-Web Version 6.0. To activate it, parents hold a master account, through which they determine what level of filtering is needed for each child. Each child must sign on with his or her own login and password to access e-mail and the Internet.
Restricted users will be routed via Symantec`s filters each time they access the Internet, and all content will be filtered according to the levels determined by the parents. Symantec`s filters not only block URLs, but also review documents and classify them using Dynamic Document Review. This system is reviewed and updated daily.
Symantec has identified 36 content categories, and focus groups of parents are currently meeting to give their views on what content is appropriate for which age groups. For example, the "medium" filtering level for children aged 12 to 15 might allow basic sexual education content to be accessed, but will block nudity and pornography.
Symantec says the system is foolproof, because the software is not resident on the user`s PC, and children would have to know their parents` passwords to be able to change their own filter settings.
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