FAMILY FRIENDLY FILTER PROGRAM HELPS AUSTRALIAN PARENTS PROTECT KIDS ONLINE 

Sydney, 11 September 2018 – Australian parents wanting to protect their families from unwanted or harmful internet content now have new options under the reinvigorated Family Friendly Filter program operated by Communications Alliance.

Three new filter vendors have now passed the rigorous independent testing needed to be certified as Family Friendly Filter providers.

The newly accredited filters are:

• Norton Family Premier, from Symantec;
  
• Family Zone; and
  
• Australian Private Networks (as part of their internet service)

Australians seeking assurance that family members – and children in particular – will not be exposed to inappropriate or potentially harmful internet content can choose a certified filter provider by visiting the Family Friendly Filter page on the Communications Alliance website.

Communications Alliance CEO, John Stanton, said the availability of three certified providers was particularly welcome in an environment of increasing concern about the potentially harmful effects of children being exposed to sexually explicit content online.

“We are working closely with the Office of the eSafety Commissioner on online safety issues, and the Family Friendly Filter program has an important role to play in offering safe options to parents,” Mr Stanton said.

To qualify as a Family Friendly Filter provider, filter vendors must pass stringent testing performed by respected independent testing house, Enex TestLab, which uses an undesirable content site list provided by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner.

The testing criteria include effectiveness, ease of use, configurability, availability of support and agreement by the candidate filter company to update the filter as required by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner – for example where the Office determines following a complaint that a specified site is prohibited under Australian law.

The filters come in a number of levels of classification, enabling families to choose a level of filtering that is suitable to the age of children in the family.

Filters are only one tool that can be used to encourage safe internet access. The Office of the eSafety Commissioner provides a range of information, tools and educational material for parents and schools. The Office also offers help with and accepts complaints regarding cyber bullying and offensive and illegal content.

In addition, many Australian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have tools and information available to parents concerned about online safety issues.

Some examples include: