Internet filtering in the context of e-safety always stirs a great, and sometimes emotive debate. Schools are a great source of discussion in this area as they have been subjected to a filtering requirement since the very first days of internet connectivity. In my previous role as a service manager for a large local authority I know first hand the day-to-day and strategic difficulties of managing such a service which satisfies a large user-base; in my case 110,000 users. But it is the announcement from David Cameron in July 2013 which has really brought this to the surface, whereby the UK will start to filter all internet traffic. (If you were not aware of this initiative see HERE for a short explanation or HERE for the PM’s speech).
I have stated before that I agree with the sentiment of the government in theory, but the practical application is a different beast entirely, but that’s the subject of another blog.
[callout font_size=”13px” style=”coolblue”]One of my greatest fears is that the application of nationwide filtering will create a new or greater e-safety risk.[/callout]
This topic alone is huge, but I will explain by way of a very simple example.
There are those who see an internet filter as something which protects children. In this sense, protection relates to the casual browser unwittingly coming across something they didn’t mean or want to see. Although the word “protect” is arguable, again the sentiment is correct.
To many parents who don’t understand the basics of e-safety (risks and behaviour), a filter will be a godsend. A means of protecting the child on the household devices and stop them coming to any harm. Whilst incorrect it is understandable; a case of “how do you know what you don’t know.”
This is what is creating or enhancing risk – the use of technology to safeguard.
No filter can just be installed and left to get on with the job, they are only good at what they do if managed continuously and correctly. But, one of the biggest frustrations with internet filtering is the blocking of legitimate sites; this isn’t a human being making a decision, it is a piece of software based on an algorithm. This is where all the shouts of censorship will come from.
So we have a conundrum: the government is quite rightly responding to some of the risks faced by children; technology will be put in place to provide a protective barrier; parents could use that technology as a sort of digital nanny; that technology will cause frustration by the blocking of legitimate sites, so what will they do?
A few days ago The Pirate Bay released a new internet browser. Based on Firefox, the browser uses the TOR network to provide uncensored internet browsing (Note: this is not anonymous browsing, it is uncensored). So, a simple install of a browser will allow the same unfiltered internet browsing.
You can immediately imagine the scenario; somebody (a child?) wants to get to a site that is blocked, install a browser. No technical knowledge, no playing around with proxies or VPN’s. That person is then able to surf a completely uncensored net negating the very initiative set up to “protect” them in the first place.
This will then introduce risk. One of the first questions I am always asked by parents when I visit schools is, “how do I protect my child?” The answer is simple:
[check_list]
[list_item]Be a good parent, learn and keep learning about online risk and behaviour.[/list_item]
[list_item]Stop blaming the technology, the “my child knows more about computers than I do” excuse is not valid.[/list_item]
[list_item]Establish a relationship based on trust. In the same way you would talk to your child about their real-world activities, the same should be true of their online activities.[/list_item]
[/check_list]
(The above is the concise version, I go into much more detail with parents and the school).
But, if a child has had to battle technology (filtering) with technology (browser un-censoring) the trust relationship has gone. Should the child get into risk they may be too embarrassed or frightened to say something. I have seen this happen on more than one occasion.
So to come to my conclusion, my fear is that by introducing technology on a national scale to protect children from various forms of harm under the banner of e-safety may in fact be introducing or increasing risk. Regardless of the initiative to raise a working party to ensure that legitimate sites won’t be blocked and the various education programmes that may be put in place, we are inviting children and young people to circumvent the technical measures either because they want to or need to.
e-Safety is first and foremost about education, not necessarily in school, but the combination of school and home: a thorough understanding of risk and behaviour, and a full understanding of how to respond to and get out of risk.
What are your thoughts about e-safety and the government initiative? Could I ask you to answer a few questions on a short poll?