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 ATL on the Radio -
Friday, August 29 Monday, September 8 ATL Op-Ed in Naples (FL) Daily News -Guest commentary: As new school year begins, be sure kids are safe online By RANDY SKOGLUND - Executive director, Americans for Technology Leadership Thursday, August 21, 2008 As kids go back to school, there are several concerns on parents’ minds, like making sure their child does well in class and behaves. These are important, but too often a threat lurks on the Internet that parents overlook. Kids come home from school and log onto the Internet to play games and talk to their friends. This is a time when parents should be on full alert and talk to their children about Internet safety. The Internet is a great tool that allows kids and adults to easily get information and stay in touch with friends. However, there are dangers online — cyber bullies, child predators, identity theft, spam, viruses, phishing scams and concerns about privacy. Users should never download content from unknown sources or give out personal information online. Child predators and other cyber criminals are lurking on the Internet, looking to get information to use to find victims. Also, keep computers in common rooms, so you can see what your kids are doing online. As privacy concerns mount and news reports detail stories about stolen identities, be aware of the Web sites your children visit and review their privacy policy. In fact, the fastest-growing segment of identity theft online is children under 18. With the proliferation of social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, explain to your children the impact that revealing too much information can have on their reputation and their future. Products such as Google Earth now have map programs that contain aerial views of streets and houses. In fact, it has been reported that people are using Google Earth to identify homes with pools and using social networking sites to coordinate late-night pool parties — unbeknownst to the homeowners. Be mindful that tools exist that can give anyone information on you and your children. If you are concerned about your home appearing on these sites, you can contact the company and ask to be removed. A relatively new online threat is cyber-bullying — repeated, unwanted or cruel behavior against someone through computers, cell phones, gaming consoles or other Internet-enabled means. Unlike physical bullying, where the victim can often walk away, the Internet is always “on,” opening the door for 24-hour harassment. Cyber bullies can be anonymous. They never have to confront their victims. They don’t have to be physically stronger. And, cyber bullies can be virtually invisible to parents and adults. Warning signs that your child may be the victim of cyber-bullying can include depression, lack of interest in school and friends, drop in grades and subtle comments that something may be wrong. If your child is the victim of cyber-bullying, take action immediately. Proactively, parents can encourage children and their friends to look out for each other. Cyber bullies are less likely to target those whom they perceive will be supported. Get help from technology also. By filtering or blocking e-mail, instant messages and text messages, you can cut off many of the ways the cyber-bullies contact your child. If harassment continues, change your child’s e-mail address, user names and Internet account. If these steps do not stop the cyber-bullying, contact the parents of the child who is behind the bullying and contact the school; if the situation is not resolved, involve the police. Tell your kids not to respond to the bully. It’s also critical that parents look for signs that your child may be the cyber-bully. If he or she signs onto the Internet under someone else’s name, uses someone else’s password without permission, posts rude or mean things about someone else online, or changes his or her profile in order to embarrass or frighten someone, he or she could be a cyber bully. Beyond our children, it’s important to take basic precautions online to protect yourself and your computer — use anti-virus software, make sure your firewall is activated, use passwords to protect information and change them regularly. Organizations like staysafe.org and the Federal Trade Commission — www.ftc.gov — have good resources online. By understanding both the benefits and the risks of Internet use, families can have a safer and more secure online experience. As kids go back to school, it’s important to equip them with the latest knowledge in how to protect their privacy online, avoid cyber-bullies and not be a victim of cyber criminals. By working together and following basic tips, kids can have a productive and safe new school year. ATL Launches Back to School Campaign -ATL has launched a month-long campaign to help educate parents on ways to make sure their kids stay safe online when they head back to school. Click here for more info. ATL Applauds Yahoo's Privacy Protection Decision -WASHINGTON, DC - In a pro-consumer move, Yahoo announced today they will be giving consumers the option to opt-out of targeted advertising. This comes on the heels of Congress investigating privacy concerns surrounding the possible search deal between Google and Yahoo. Americans for Technology Leadership applauds this decision by Yahoo as they are responding to the consumer demand for greater privacy protection.
“Greater transparency is needed in the technology, and especially the search, industry as to exactly how personal consumer data is being used and Yahoo is taking the important first step in letting consumers decide if they want to be targeted for advertising,” said Randy Skoglund, executive director of Americans for Technology Leadership.
As consumers search online, their data is being recorded and kept by the technology companies who own the search engines. It’s important to read the privacy policies on different search engines since some companies keep data for a shorter amount of time than others and use that data differently.
“Respecting and protecting consumer privacy is important to technology users everywhere especially when it comes to search where people use the web to find important information for very personal reasons involving their health and personal finances,” continued Skoglund. “We applaud Yahoo & Microsoft for their leadership in this space. However, until search giant Google, with over 70% share in US and 90% in Europe, voluntarily agrees to do the same consumers will not benefit as they should.”
“With increased scrutiny from regulators it’s this kind of voluntary response to consumer concerns that helps high tech markets continue to grow, remain innovative and avoids the type of government regulations that could lead to unintended consequences,” concluded Skoglund.
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