Youngsters to be protected from harmful Internet information
(From The Japan Times June 7 issue)

有害サイトから子どもを守る規制法案

The Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, the Democratic Party of Japan and the Japan Communist Party have worked out a bill aimed at shielding children from harmful Web sites. The Education Resuscitation Council had called for restricting the use of mobile phones by schoolchildren to direct calls and GPS notification (so that parents can locate them).

Under the bill, the government would not involve itself in deciding which Internet information is harmful. It must refrain from making any moves that would restrict the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression. Private-sector efforts to educate people on lurking Internet dangers will be vital.

According to a Cabinet Office survey in March 2007, 31.3 percent of elementary school students and 57.6 percent of middle school students use mobile phones, and 27 percent and 56.3 percent, respectively, use the Internet.

The National Police Agency says that 848 elementary, middle and high school students became victims of crimes related to online dating sites in 2007, and that more than 90 percent of them accessed such sites through mobile phones.

In the face of criticism from opposition parties, the LDP dropped an earlier proposal to require private-sector organizations that judge what Internet contents are harmful to register with the government. The Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association, mobile phone and Internet firms also opposed any move that would appear to foster government intervention.

The bill would require mobile-phone companies and Internet providers to offer filtering services that block access to harmful Web sites on mobile phones and personal computers used by children under 18. Parents may reject such services. The government will provide financial support to private organizations that develop or promote the use of filtering software.

The Internet contains useful and harmful information. It is crucial that children as well as parents hone their ability to differentiate between the two.

自民、民主など4与野党が青少年に対する有害サイト情報を規制する法案で合意した。教育再生懇談会は、小中学生の携帯電話利用を通話とGPS機能に限定することを提案している。

法案は、情報が青少年に有害かどうかの判断に国は関与しないとした。憲法が定める「表現の自由」を国が侵害してはならない。インターネットの危険性を教える民間努力が重要だ。

サイトの有害性の基準を作る民間機関は国の登録団体にすべきという自民党案は採用されなかった。日本新聞協会や携帯・ネット関連会社は、国の情報統制につながる動きに反対した。

法案は、青少年の有害サイト接続を防ぐ「フィルタリングサービス」を携帯電話会社とプロバイダーに義務付けたが、親が不要だと申し出れば提供しなくてもよい。国は有害サイト対策を行なう民間事業や団体には財政支援をする。

ネット上の情報が有益か有害か、見分ける力を親も子も身につけなくてはならない。