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JET PROPULSION LABORATORY   

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
GBG-95-781-17
15 August 1995

TO: KidSat Distribution

FROM: G. Goodson [[initaled: GG]]

SUBJECT: Software for Blocking Internet Access to Sexually Explicit Material

REFERENCE: KidSat PDR RFA#9

During the KidSat PDR, a board member raised the issue of how easily children could access sexually explicit material available via the Internet. Even with good teacher supervision, some students may be tempted to go exploring  whenever the opportunity arises.

In a recent issue of MacWorld, I found an ad for a software package, Surf Watch, which was developed to block access to this type of material. It works by automatically filtering and blocking all Internet user requests through a list of known Web sites- URLs, FTPs, Gopher, Chat, etc., that may contain sexually-oriented and pornographic material. The database of blocked sites and materials can be automatically updated via the Internet. 

Surf Watch is available for the Macintosh and PC-Windows and works with the NetScape web browser. The normal price for the software is $50 for each computer, plus $5 per month fee for the automatic updating service. However, Surf Watch offers educational discounts, as well. Educational pricing information will be electronically forwarded to each of the KidSat Element Leads and pilot school teachers. Attached are hard copies of Surf Watch information from its Web page, located at http://www.surfwatch.com.

The KidSat Project strongly recommends that all net-connected KidSat computers be equipped with this, or a similar product as soon as practical. 

DISTRUBTION

JPL
P.Andres
J. Baker
F. O'Callaghan
J. Way
G. Yepez

JHU 
B. Stork
J. Hunt

UCSD  
S.Ride
F. Peters
K. Langham

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