Who Needs Parenting When Your ISP Uses The British Film Classification System?

from the protection-from-all-evil-for-just-twenty-pounds-a-month dept

A UK ISP has teamed up with the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) to create a new parental control and filtering system that's based on the same classification system being used by the UK film industry. UK Wireless ISP Tibboh uses internet filter technology created by Netsweeper to classify websites under the BBFC's rating system (U, PG, 12, 15 or 18). Facebook and Twitter are given a "12" rating (only suitable for those over twelve), Blogger and Wordpress sites are given a "15" rating, while major news outlets are given a "U" certificate (suitable for everyone). The idea seems like a fusion of a bunch of ineffective and bad ideas. It's based on Internet filters that, of course, will block some useful content, but which kids will be able to bypass anyway. The filter system adds a new wrinkle by pretending it's possible to assign a valuable age restriction metric to information delivery platforms -- as if your kid couldn't possibly run into something foul via Twitter, in a blog, or in the news. The service provides the illusion of safety to people who'd rather pay twenty Pounds a month than pay attention to what their kids are doing -- or talk to them face to face about smart technology use.
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Filed Under: movies, parenting, united kingdom


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  1. identicon
    NAMELESS.ONE, 26 Apr 2010 @ 5:15am

    and

    cameras in your house
    OUTside the house everywhere

    and who needs parents is right so FUCK YOU mom and dad
    get lost

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    Yogi, 26 Apr 2010 @ 5:25am

    Not bad

    I'm sure for some kids an ISP is a better parent than what they are used to getting at home...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    no.names .mom, 26 Apr 2010 @ 5:25am

    Re: and

    yeah its always fuck you mom and dad, untill you need something, like food or money or car insurance! you little ungrateful prick, get a job and get the fuck out yourself.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    NAMELESS.ONE, 26 Apr 2010 @ 5:48am

    @3

    no its fuck you mom n dad until the power is out and i can't cook the pizza pops on the microwave cause i have no outdoor skills and have no clue about what life is about

    and i'll add you must be the parent that then bends over and dishes out the I-STUPID-pad cash or the 90-120$ for ASSassin's Creed, or 2000 $ for a HD tv , Blu ray reader , then gets a high end computer for as much as you can pay for cause YOUR SO COOL.
    lol

    the fact is if parents weren't such tards themselves half this shit would not be happening

    PROVE ME WRONG parents that half the problem isn't YOU.
    You can't plead negligence under most countries laws, YET your ok with it when it comes ot your kids.
    HENCE why so many missing kids and crime happens to them

    I sirs and madams am the worlds largest baby sitter

    YES folks as a member in good standing with paid dues of the united hackers association i attempt to keep YOUR fraking kids from trouble and give a lil free IT education along the way.

    Ever wonder why for 16 years no member in tha time has ever been arrested for a computer crime?

    and to give you a hint at the knowledge that leaves us, go look up a group that was formed a few years back called world of hell ( im saying that one cause we still use the famous mug that had a unicode for the fbi's website - 900+ sold in a few days before they turned the mug sideways at cafepress HAHA- also its long now dead so no harm can be done to said group)

    call that pay back for the illegal invasion/attack in Canada of our servers without sanction a few years earlier.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. icon
    Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 26 Apr 2010 @ 5:49am

    Why U... little

    I always wondered why News was for everyone. Tornadoes, robbery, bombing, rape, politicians, no kid should watch that without at least parental guidance.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. icon
    Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 26 Apr 2010 @ 5:55am

    Re: @3

    I have to ask (I know I asked before), are you so pissed off that you can't type straight, or do you speak another language and run it threw Babelfish or Google translate? If it's the former you may just be an idiot. If it the latter, then you may have a point but we can't see it (you may also not be able to understand us).

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    NAMELESS.ONE, 26 Apr 2010 @ 5:55am

    p.s.

    i left home at 16 cause both my parents were idiot drunks and drug addicts myself and worked for everyhtign i have including the 25$ a hour job , a college education and 2 computers tons a books etc bought and paid for by ya know hard work.

    PROOF furthar still that a bad upbringing doesn't give anyone an excuse to be lazy , uneducated and criminal or sit on there buts taxing us with copyrights and patents.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    NAMELESS.ONE, 26 Apr 2010 @ 6:17am

    @ 6 et all

    Dir Sirs/Madams,
    Sorry for:
    - Bad grimmer
    - Bad punctuation
    - Being tired and a bit irritable on occasion and if i dare say it passionate in my beliefs that I'd rather see kids sit in front of a computer and download music , movies and tv and games rather then go into a cruel world and sometimes get into trouble. Think of it this way....what does more REAL harm, having a kid break into a home or store to get a cdr/dvdr and possibly harm a person in process, or get harmed themselves. OR just dl it.

    AND if people really want to solve this i spent a full month developing a true levy system that WOULD work, have opt out and have systems in play to guard versus by passes and a committee that is majority of the users with representation ( minority ) of artists.


    Also this keyboard that needs to be replaced needs me to POUND the keys down and I've been up all night, as i am usually. Yes I'm gonna change this shortly but for now this irritating ....will have to do.
    Reasons vary but include( and ya know i am ok with you asking ..no really ):
    1) For first time in 3 months i have some pain medicine and relief. This when you are liberated from pain means i can't sleep well for a few days as my body adjusts a bit. I also get doing so much more i may misspell a lot and yea i miss some spelling mistakes as my thoughts always race. Those with really HIGH IQ's may understand this.
    2) DO you really want to see the life of a real hacker, not a script kiddy and what we really do in a week? HAHA OMG i need to write a book...so THEY ( who ever they are tell me )
    Perhaps i should do up a real, in depth about me and toss up to mike and we can all have some laughs and serious discussions on the whole topic of writing and speech and linguistics as well as encryption and network security penetration consulting( corporate name for hacking )

    Having started on BBS boards ( WAY BACK ) and being in irc where sometimes I'll be using codes and other stuff , a kind of MY language , with encryption , i got used to my style a short hand and it does irritate me tha someone wants it COMPLETELY perfect as if its like they gather evidence. ALSO i really do think i can get a message across without needing to use BIG INTENSE words that require the readers to have a dictionary and not feel intimidated by 99 paragraphs , when a TO THE POINT phrase or few phrases even misspelled you can acquire a meaning.

    Laws , rules and such that take the rights form parents ARE BAD. What should be happening is to say YOUR a bad parent get help, FOR THE KIDS sake. HOWEVER anything that related to culture , politics and religion should be off limits to propaganda and mind control of the state.

    IF it is about how well the kid eats, or what he sleeps on and any sexual abuse then intervene. AND DO please parents , have a look and have a care. Nothing wrong with learning how things work and how they break. ITS fixing things thats always the hard work.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    awd, 26 Apr 2010 @ 6:24am

    Re: Re: and

    A Failbook moment right here on techdirt.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. icon
    Dark Helmet (profile), 26 Apr 2010 @ 6:35am

    I don't know what it is, but the discourse level on TechDirt lately has completely fallen off the table....

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 6:50am

    12 doesn't mean "only suitable for those over twelve" it means 'for people 12 and older'.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBFC#Current_certificates

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. icon
    Griff (profile), 26 Apr 2010 @ 7:03am

    The classification system has become surreal

    So I'm hosting a birthday party of 8 year olds. Pizza, movie, sleepover. Trying to pick a movie they have not seen (ie not a modern one) that they'd like. Perhaps ET or Short Circuit, you know, stuff from when we were younger.

    I find "Gremlins" (gee, that takes me back). Imagine my surprise when I see that it has a 15 certificate.
    So I start exploring just what modern film ratings look like.

    Imagine my further surprise when I find that the Bourne Identity has as 12 certificate. Gremlins vs Bourne. Hmmm

    Go figure..

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 7:08am

    nameless one makes a point, that Parents do need to be more responsible.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 7:10am

    it isnt a question of either / or but an also. having the rating system doesnt mean parents can walk away and not care. it just adds a level of protection. you act like everything has to be a 100% solution. sometimes making something 10% better is still worth the effort. we dont live in an absolute world.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 7:28am

    Sort of like the UK's version of Cleanternet:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkmcupFx3FQ

    link to this | view in thread ]

  16. icon
    lfroen (profile), 26 Apr 2010 @ 7:55am

    Do you actually have children, Mike?

    I actually do like an idea of "rated websites". I don't know what is your idea about "parenting", but if you think that this is 24/7 supervision, you wrong.
    My 4-year old kid can do things alone. Like turn on his toys. Or mp3 player. When he turn about 6, he will know how to operate computer. _alone_. I will not stay behind his back _all the time_, that's hole idea of "independent doing".

    I want to be able to create setup where he can access Internet _alone_, without me constantly making sure he doesn't accidentally click on some random porn/malware link.

    Now, if my son can figure out how to bypass iptables-based filter, he really qualified to browse Internet alone. I wish him luck in this task, I really do.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  17. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 8:13am

    @lfroen,

    I could count the number of times I've accidentally found porn online in the fingers of one hand, and even then the chances of it harming a kid for seeing it would have been close to zero. It might lead to awkward questions for mommy and daddy, but the kid would be fine.

    Filters are a substitute for paranoid parents who feel as if the alternative is to constantly be looking over their shoulder.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  18. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 8:59am

    Re: Do you actually have children, Mike?

    "but if you think that this is 24/7 supervision, you wrong."

    Me so horny. Me love you long time.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  19. icon
    Hephaestus (profile), 26 Apr 2010 @ 9:10am

    Re:

    I know what you mean. It seems to be getting very LCD here recently.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  20. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 9:15am

    Re:

    Considering that everyone is under that table drinking . . . .

    link to this | view in thread ]

  21. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 9:17am

    Re:

    Except when it comes to the rights of content owners. They must have absolute control, in this world, the digital one and hell, why not even the next?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  22. icon
    Idobek (profile), 26 Apr 2010 @ 9:20am

    Welcome to the UK...

    ...where the contracting out of parenting is fast becoming mandatory.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  23. icon
    Dark Helmet (profile), 26 Apr 2010 @ 9:37am

    Re: Re:

    "Considering that everyone is under that table drinking . . . ."

    Actually, I've had some very insightful and invigorating conversations after copious amounts of drinking. This seems like something else. Almost like a subversive attempt to stifle honest dialogue and debate through childish behavior....

    link to this | view in thread ]

  24. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 9:41am

    Re: Re: Re:

    I agree. I believe that someone is letting drunk children post here.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  25. icon
    Dark Helmet (profile), 26 Apr 2010 @ 9:47am

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    "I agree. I believe that someone is letting drunk children post here."

    That, or else TechDirt is pulling a Reichstagg Fire trick so that it can win support for comment moderation....

    C'mon! I'm the conspiracy king! I can't believe it took me THIS long to level one at Mike et al :)

    link to this | view in thread ]

  26. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 10:28am

    Re: Do you actually have children, Mike?

    And how exactly do you expect a rating system to stop "random porn/malware links", of which there are probably a few 1000 new ones created every few minutes.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  27. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 10:29am

    USA Should Adopt An Even Stronger System

    Currently in the US, an essentially secret society of film industry insiders in something called the Motion Picture Association of America decides a film's rating. These people all inhabit the culturally-isolated bubble of Los Angeles; they alike, they dress alike, and they share the same values that make LA a nice place to visit and a horrible place to raise your kids.

    MPAA refuses to publish an objective standard they follow to decide a film's rating 'cause they don't follow an objective standard. Nor does the MPAA publish the names, occupations, and other details that might offer parents any insight into why they rate the films the way they do.

    For instance, consider this verbiage from the PG-13 rating found at http://www.mpaa.org/FlmRat_Ratings.asp:

    "A motion picture’s single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context."

    What constitutes all of the "harsher sexually-derived words?" Who really thinks it's okay if an unsupervised 13-year old hears the word one time in a movie, but if it's said twice, then a parent should be present?

    What's the effect of this rating squishiness? Virtually every PG-13 movie now includes one occurrence of the F-word - the single occurrence sanctioned by the MPAA.

    We need a stronger, more objective rating system so parents can make an informed decision about whether a movie is appropriate for their children. It's simply insufficient to having some secret society assert via their PG-13, "Don't worry, this movie is appropriate for your 13 year old to view outside of your supervision."

    We need more information advising the content of a movie and not a declaration by movie industry employees about what's appropriate for our children.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  28. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 10:33am

    Re: Re:

    hi mike. dont get out much do you?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  29. icon
    Reason2Bitch (profile), 26 Apr 2010 @ 10:45am

    Re: @3

    Like they do in sparta, your parents should have just abandoned you in the forest.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  30. icon
    Reason2Bitch (profile), 26 Apr 2010 @ 10:48am

    Re: USA Should Adopt An Even Stronger System

    fuck you

    link to this | view in thread ]

  31. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 10:53am

    Re: Re: Re:

    hi mike.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  32. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 11:06am

    USA Should Adopt An Even Stronger System

    Currently in the US, an essentially secret society of film industry insiders in something called the Motion Picture Association of America decides a film's rating. These people all inhabit the culturally-isolated bubble of Los Angeles; they alike, they dress alike, and they share the same values that make LA a nice place to visit and a horrible place to raise your kids.

    MPAA refuses to publish an objective standard they follow to decide a film's rating 'cause they don't follow an objective standard. Nor does the MPAA publish the names, occupations, and other details that might offer parents any insight into why they rate the films the way they do.

    For instance, consider this verbiage from the PG-13 rating found at http://www.mpaa.org/FlmRat_Ratings.asp:

    "A motion picture’s single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context."

    What constitutes all of the "harsher sexually-derived words?" Who really thinks it's okay if an unsupervised 13-year old hears the word one time in a movie, but if it's said twice, then a parent should be present?

    What's the effect of this rating squishiness? Virtually every PG-13 movie now includes one occurrence of the F-word - the single occurrence sanctioned by the MPAA.

    We need a stronger, more objective rating system so parents can make an informed decision about whether a movie is appropriate for their children. It's simply insufficient to having some secret society assert via their PG-13, "Don't worry, this movie is appropriate for your 13 year old to view outside of your supervision."

    We need more information advising the content of a movie and not a declaration by movie industry employees about what's appropriate for our children.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  33. icon
    Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 26 Apr 2010 @ 11:12am

    Re: Re: Do you actually have children, Mike?

    and never use the current rating system already in place.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  34. identicon
    spartacus, 26 Apr 2010 @ 11:14am

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    No, I'm Mike.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  35. identicon
    no.names .mom, 26 Apr 2010 @ 11:29am

    Re: @3

    it was sarcasm you are angry and certainly no capable of babysitting my kids.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  36. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Apr 2010 @ 11:49am

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    NO! I AM MIKE!!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  37. identicon
    pardon me in advance, 26 Apr 2010 @ 3:52pm

    Re: USA Should Adopt An Even Stronger System

    Or ... maybe watch the movie with their childeren and turn it off if/when it becomes inappropriate.

    Is that asking too much ?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  38. identicon
    Any Mouse, 26 Apr 2010 @ 4:09pm

    Re: Do you actually have children, Mike?

    Uh huh. You realize there are a multitude of programs, such as Net Nanny, that will do this for you, right? It's your responsibility to take care of such things. Do not make more government that I have to pay for.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  39. icon
    Marcel de Jong (profile), 27 Apr 2010 @ 1:36am

    Re: @ 6 et all

    who is @6 et al? Would you please use the (reply to this comment) link. It would help a lot.
    Thank you.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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