Child Safety, Consumer Protection, Corporate Citizenship
Empowers Parents to Protect Their Children from Unsafe Content
Parents’ concern that their children can access unsafe content has limited the uptake of data plans among teenagers. Now operators can address this concern with the OSN Content Filtering application, offering parents the ability to supervise access and set levels of authorized mobile web content. By providing content filtering, operators can increase their data uptake and market share among trendsetting teens — a key segment for the launch and growth of new mobile services.
Responds to Regulators and Consumer Advocates
Regulatory initiatives and consumer protection agencies are advocating solutions to shield users from certain web content. Many countries are enacting laws requiring operators to offer technologies that ensure safe browsing for children and restrict access to illegal content by all consumers. The OSN allows operators to proactively respond and comply.
Demonstrates Corporate Responsibility
By implementing content filtering, operators demonstrate a commitment and responsibility to subscribers that enhances their brand — building customer loyalty and attracting new subscribers. Content filtering also further expands the suite of value-added data services that an operator can offer.
Filtering Database Options
The OSN includes basic “black and white” listings of URLs and IP addresses. Different lists can be applied to different users — for example, placing more restrictions on preteens than on teenagers. The gateway’s capabilities can be augmented with optional pre-integrated URL filtering databases, including the following:
RuleSpace Web Categorization Database (WCD)
The RuleSpace WCD contains over 60 million URLs in over 80 categories, with 10 to 15 million new sites added annually. When deployed with the RuleSpace WCD, the OSN Content Filtering application also includes a dynamic rating engine, which dynamically scans content that is beyond the static categorization of the database. This is particularly important for mobile sites, which tend to dynamically generate content personalized for each user.
Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
The U.K.-based IWF works in partnership with the online industry, law enforcement, government, the education sector, charities, and global partners to protect consumers against child pornography as well as criminal and racist content. When integrated with the IWF, the OSN Content Filtering application is able to block access to this content.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
The U.S.-based NCMEC provides resources to reduce the distribution of child pornography over the Internet. When integrated with the NCMEC, the OSN Content Filtering application is able to block access to this content.
Bytemobile URL Database
Bytemobile offers a modified version of the database created by the Open Directory Project (DMOZ). The Open Directory powers the core services for the Web's largest search engines and portals, including Netscape Search, AOL Search, Google, Lycos, HotBot, DirectHit, and hundreds of others. This database contains nearly 5 million websites.
