1. PICS: Platform for Internet Content Selection
Dr. James Miller
MIT Laboratory for Computer Science

2. PICS System Rules User Service s Guarantor Signed Label Labelers Label
(Vocabulary)
Rules
User
Service
(Process) s
Guarantor
Signed
Label
Labelers
Label
Search/Filter
Engine

3. Framing The Question The Technology Itself
U.S. Domestic Use of the Technology
International Use of the Technology

4. The Technology Itself Labels (metadata) are useful for many things
...Since the Web is global, its technology must support a wide range of policy options that encourage all cultures to use the Web…. [The Web] architecture must allow local policies to co- exist without cultural fragmentation or domination.
Labels (metadata) are useful for many things
Improving and automating search (library catalogs)
Quality labels (virus checks, “archivist”, community)
Child protection (content regulation)
Privacy protection (data reuse policy)
Intellectual property rights management

5. U.S. Domestic Policy Educate parents about the new medium
Parental involvement is essential
Filtering is an aid, not a panacea
Encourage many third-party labels
Parents must choose
Filter when parents can’t be there
Public schools, especially grades 6 - 9
Children in libraries and public spaces
Parental choice or community choice or …?

6. International Policy
Oppose mandatory labeling, encourage objective rating
Objective rating systems are possible
Self-rating vs. third-party rating is irrelevant
More effective as a public service than as a self-supporting business
Establish objective labeling as a safe haven