Filed by Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, (R-Penn.), the "Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006" or "DOPA" is about requiring recipients of universal service support for schools and libraries to protect minors from commercial social networking websites and chat rooms."  The term "commercial social networking website" means a commercially operated Internet website that (1) allows users to create web pages or profiles that provide information about themselves and are available to other users; and (2) offers a mechanism for communication with other users, such as a forum, chat room, email, or instant messenger.

With the definition given, MySpace and other social-networking sites like LiveJournal.com and Facebook are the potential targets for this proposed federal law that would effectively require most schools and libraries to render those Web sites inaccessible to minors, an age group that includes some of the category's most ardent user.  A teen-life without MySpace, Instant Messaging and Chat?

The U.S. Congress findings indicated that:

(1) sexual predators approach minors on the Internet using chat rooms and social networking websites, and, according to the United States Attorney General, one in five children has been approached sexually on the Internet;

(2) sexual predators can use these chat rooms and websites to locate, learn about, befriend, and eventually prey on children by engaging them in sexually explicit conversations, asking for photographs, and attempting to lure children into a face to face meeting; and

(3) with the explosive growth of trendy chat rooms and social networking websites, it is becoming more and more difficult to monitor and protect minors from those with devious intentions, particularly when children are away from parental supervision.

With these findings, the recommendations are as follows:

(A) Certification by Schools - (i) is enforcing a policy of Internet safety for minors that includes monitoring the online activities of minors and the operation of a technology protection measure with respect to any of its computers with Internet access that -

(I) protects against access through such computers to visual depictions that are:

(aa) obscene; (bb) child pornography; or (cc) harmful to minors; and

(II) protects against access to a commercial social networking website or chat room unless used for an educational purpose with adult supervision; and'.

(B) Certification by Libraries - (i) is enforcing a policy of Internet safety that includes the operation of a technology protection measure with respect to any of its computers with Internet access that -

(I) protects against access through such computers to visual depictions that are:

(aa) obscene; (bb) child pornography; or (cc) harmful to minors; and

(II) protects against access by minors without parental authorization to a commercial social networking website or chat room, and informs parents that sexual predators can use these websites and chat rooms to prey on children;

The Deleting Online Predators Act already passed in U.S. Congress. Should it also pass through the Senate, the bill would ban US children from using popular networking Web sites in schools and libraries. 

Again, confusions in definitions and interpretations arise.  Critics are saying that the Act is too broad and will affect a huge number of sites, such as blogging sites or news organizations.  An online petition called "Save your Space" was already started by in the hope they can gather more than 1 million signatures in a month.  MySpace boasts over 76 million users, and claims to have a registration average of 250,000 new users daily.

If this were to happen in the Philippines, I would say that it would be an exercise in futility.  The Internet is so wide and vast that no law can actually stop it.  Yes, you can stop the youth to visit social networking sites in schools and libraries.  But what if the kids use this in Internet cafes, friends' house and/or at their own place.  The purpose of the Act is to prevent kids from being victimized by online predators.  So if the kids can still access and use it outside of their schools, then the Act is useless.

My stand here is let the parents talk openly with their kids about the dangers of social networking sites, IM and chat.  Parents should be as technology savvy or at least tech-knowledgeable like their kids when it comes to online activities.  Parents can only protect their kids while they're home.  Once the kids are out, then it's a different ballgame together.

So it is very important that we as parents should instill good moral values to our kids.  Explain to them the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet.  Where they should draw the line between being friendly and being stupid.  There's nothing wrong gaining new friends online but to become too trusting is dangerous.

Remember, the reason why all these online activities are popular - the element of ANONYMITY.  You can be who you want to be today, and another one tomorrow.  Is that worth your trust?

*****

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