If you ever encounter child pornography (sexually explicit material involving minors), GetNetWise.org advises that you call the US Customs Service at 1-800-BE-ALERT. But please note this too: Downloading or making a copy of child pornography for any reason - even as evidence for law enforcement - is a crime in the US. If you run across what you believe to be child porn, just record the URL (Web address) and report only that. The FBI maintains a page for kids at http://www.fbi.gov/kids/crimepre/internet/internet.htm. They ask that children who become aware of the transmission, use, or viewing of child pornography while online, immediately report this to your local FBI Office or to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-843-5678.

It is also important to protect children's privacy on the Internet. Since online marketing to children is continually growing, COPPA laws require that certain commercial Web sites get permission from parents before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children under 13. Before collecting information, Web sites must obtain verifiable parental consent. Web sites must also post a privacy policy describing what personal information they collect from children, how it is to be used, and if it is given to third parties.
By learning about COPPA, Children's Online Privacy Protection Laws, you can become an active participant in making sure that COPPA does its job.

If you think a Web site is not complying with COPPA, you can contact your State Attorney General or notify the Federal Trade Commission:

Federal Trade Commission Consumer Response Center
Room 130
600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20580
Call toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
FTC Web site online complaint form.

Some sites for parents and teachers who want to keep up on the current laws regarding internet laws.
http://www.getnetwise.org/
http://www.cyberangels.org/law/index.html
http://www.kidsprivacy.org/tips.html
http://www.netfamilynews.org/
http://www.safekids.com/

Return to September's Sun Associates News

Home	Search	Contact Us

Information on this site that has been produced by Sun Associates is Copyright 1997 - 2006 Sun Associates and is available for individual, one-time, use by educators. Duplication is prohibited without permission. All other material is the property of its authors and Sun Associates makes no warranty for its use or accuracy.