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Noch mehr aus Canada




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>URL: http://www.canoe.ca/FPTechnology/nov2_internetpr.html
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>Internet providers develop code to head off government
>
>                                 By JILL VARDY
>                      Technology Reporter The Financial Post
>
> OTTAWA -- Canada's Internet service providers have cobbled together a code
>of conduct to help govern their services -- and forestall the government
>from legislating their activities.
> The voluntary code, unveiled Friday, sets out guidelines for preventing the
>spread of pornographic, hate, or other illegal information on the World Wide
>Web. It was drawn up with the Canadian Association of Internet Providers, a
>group formed last spring that consists of Internet service providers,
>suppliers such as telephone companies, and hardware and software
manufacturers.
> "When you look at what's happening around the world, it's been the
>governments regulating the industry," said Margo Langford, corporate and
>legal counsel at iStar Internet Inc. While the Canadian government has not
>attempted such legislation, it has been raised as a possibility -- most
>recently during the Liberal party's annual meeting in Ottawa last week.
> "In our view that's not the appropriate way to tackle it because no piece
>of legislation is going to work as well as us saying we're going to be
>responsible for it," Langford said.
> Individual service providers have already taken steps to help protect
>customers from offensive material. iStar, for example, offers screening
>software with each iStar account.
> The code of conduct, approved by association's board Oct. 10, has been
>posted on the organization's Web site (http://www.caip.ca) for comments.
> It sets out the conditions under which an ISP (Internet service provider)
>will investigate and take action against a Web page or chat group spreading
>offensive or illegal material. "CAIP members will not knowingly host illegal
>content. CAIP members will share information about illegal content for this
>purpose," the code states.
> But service providers following the code will not monitor Web pages for
>such material. Instead, they will rely on customers to inform them of
>offensive content.
> "Most ISPs are small companies. And even large ones like iStar don't have
>the manpower to monitor all content,"
>Langford said. "This is an open invitation . . . if you've got a problem
>we'll look into it. But we can't be your watchdog for you."
> The code will help clarify the role of the service provider. But it won't
>restrict users who want access to offensive material on the Internet from
>getting it.
> "There's certainly a role to play in the ISPs preventing people from
>placing illegal content on the ISP-hosted Web pages. But the ISP can't
>prevent access to the World Wide Web," said Miles Faulkner, principal of
>Ernst & Young's information, communication and entertainment practice.
> When an association member receives a complaint, it will conduct an
>internal review, consult with lawyers and the police if required, and notify
>the content provider or abuser of the complaint, with a request for a response
>within seven days.
> The code also sets out privacy provisions for Internet users.
> Langford said CAIP sent electronic mail to 300 ISPs operating in Canada to
>get feedback. "This is a final document insofar as we expect our members to
>adopt it, but it's not set in stone," Langford said.
>