VeriSign to Offer Digital IDs to Children

[Brittany]

VeriSign plans to unveil a program that would offer digital IDs to children. VeriSign already plays a huge role on the Internet as it is the leading provider of infrastructure services and is responsible for managing the dot-com and dot-net domains. The California-based company has also recently been a source of controversy due to recent criticism of its “Site Finder” search service, which makes money off online users’ typing mistakes.

According to ZDNet, VeriSign is currently working in partnership with i-Safe America to bring these new digital IDs to children ranging in age from 12 to 17 years old. This new program hopes to improve the online safety of children enrolled in the program. Child safety on the Internet is already a huge concern as over 48 million children ranging from ages 5 to 17 use the Internet on a regular basis in the United States, according to the Department of Commerce. By 2005, it is expected that over 77 million children will become online regulars, increasing the need for safety precautions to protect these children from cyber crimes.

"Using the Internet for communications and research has become second nature for today's school children. By providing these students with digital credentials, we're providing them, their teachers, and their parents with another proactive tool to help them use the Internet more safely," said Teri Schroeder, Chief Executive Officer of i-SAFE America. 1,000 children are hoped to be included in the pilot program, which will be offered first in Kentucky and Nebraska, according to ZDNet, and other states are expected to follow.

Click here for more information. (http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=62930)

One thing that was noted in this ZDNet article (http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-5156982.html) was that "few public Web sites currently exist that require digital credentials for entry." For this reason, some critics say the program is premature and will be of little help to children at this point in time. Do you agree?

[sparky_t]

Hi Brittany,

It finally looks like someone is doing something about it! Here in the UK, and I'm sure that the problem is much the same in most countries, is that we forever see in the media of children disappearing, possibly to meet someone from a chatroom.

The idea (or ideal?) of child IDs for the chatroom is a great idea. Not only to make the chatroom more secure, but in monitering children as they are there.

Gtanted, at the momment, with few sites offering ID entry, it is going to be an unused and underated scheme. But 'from small acorns'.

If the scheme is not introduced now, in a few years when the idea is raised again, the same problem will still be there.

I apprieciate that government legislation to enforce chatrooms to have digital credentials for children, would not stop all chatrooms from allowing anyone any age from using them unsolicited, but the media has made it clear that children want to use chatrooms, and want to be safe.

If the legislation is there, and the service available, I believe the children will make it work, by using it.