The Internet and Some International Regulatory Issues Relating to Content

Citation
UNESCO, 'The Internet and some International Regulatory Issues Relating to Content (Oct. 1997) (full-text).

Overview
In December 1996, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) commissioned the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) to conduct a pilot study which considered a range of online issues. The pilot study was designed to enable the ABA to assess the feasibility of conducting a larger and more comprehensive study for UNESCO. The terms of reference for the pilot were:


 * to provide a brief overview of the nature of the online environment and some of its important features;
 * to provide a brief overview of some of the issues arising in the online environment, particularly as they relate to the content of online services;
 * to discuss some of the technical developments which enable parents and supervisors to protect children from harmful or unsuitable material in the online environment, including the Platform for Internet Content Selection (PICS); and
 * to provide a brief overview of some relevant regulatory developments in Malaysia Singapore, the United Kingdom and Australia.

This report outlines the findings of the pilot study, based on data collected between February and July 1997. As a pilot study, this report does not aim to be a comprehensive assessment of the issues or developments in the areas within the terms of reference. Rather it intends to identify some of the relevant issues, enable the ABA to assess the feasibility of a larger study and provide a starting point for further research in this area. For this reason the report does not reach any conclusions.