Family Online Safety Institute

Facebook 'Friends' FOSI

Social networking giant joins the Family Online Safety Institute

Washington DC – December 7, 2009 - The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), a leading international nonprofit group dedicated to protecting kids on the Internet, today announced that social network giant, Facebook, will join the organization. Richard Allan, director of European public policy, will serve as the Facebook representative on the FOSI Board of Directors.

 “FOSI is very pleased that Facebook will be joining our organization to further promote the best rules, tools and educational programs in schools to keep the Internet safe for family members of all ages,” said FOSI CEO, Stephen Balkam. “Facebook has had a profound impact on the development of the web and the way kids communicate online and this membership will allow us to work together to promote digital citizenship and responsible online use.” 

“The safety of our users is of the utmost importance to us and we’re committed to working with public and private experts make our site as safe as possible.  That’s why we’re excited to be joining FOSI, one of the most trusted and well-respected online safety organizations in the world,” said Richard Allan, Facebook Director of European Public Policy. “Our users will benefit from the wealth of educational materials, tools, and resources FOSI offers their members and FOSI possesses a unique international perspective that is incredibly valuable.  We look forward to working with FOSI to make the Internet safer for everyone.”

Additionally, FOSI has been chosen to serve on the new Facebook Advisory Board that has been created to review the existing safety resources Facebook provides its users, assess new materials it creates, contribute safety articles to the Facebook Blog and advise on general best practices on an ongoing basis. The board will help revamp the online safety information in the Facebook’s Help Center, with the goal of creating specific educational resources for parents, teachers, and teens. Common Sense Media, ConnectSafely, WiredSafety and Childnet International will also serve on the board.

For more information on FOSI, visit www.fosi.org, the FOSI YouTube Channel, Facebook and Twitter.

About FOSI
The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) works to make the online world safer for kids and their families by identifying and promoting best practices, tools and methods that also respect free speech. FOSI’s members include: AOL, AT&T, Blue Coat Systems, BT Retail, Comcast, CompTIA, Facebook, France Telecom, Google, GSM Association, Kingston Communications, Loopt, Microsoft, MySpace, NCTA, Ning, Nominum, Optenet, Privo, RuleSpace, Sprint, StreamShield, Symantec, Telefónica, TELMEX, The Wireless Foundation, Verizon, Yahoo. FOSI hosts an annual international conference to bring together Internet safety advocates from a variety of sectors, including global corporations, government, non-profits, academia and the media, to discuss the current pulse of online safety and emerging solutions that will enhance it. For more information, please visit www.fosi.org.

About Facebook
Founded in February 2004, Facebook’s mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. Anyone can sign up for Facebook and interact with the people they know in a trusted environment. Facebook is a privately held company and is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif.

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FOSI Signs Internet Safety Agreement with the Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement and the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology

Landmark Memorandum of Understanding establishes collaborative partnership in family online safety

Sharm El-Shiekh, Egypt – November 18, 2009 - The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement and Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in the framework of the Cyber Peace Initiative. The landmark agreement was signed at the United Nations 4th Annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Sharm El-Sheikh, in the presence of H.E Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, the First Lady of Egypt, President and Founder of the Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement, and sets the scene for a collaborative partnership in family online safety in Egypt and around the world.

Over 1,500 participants from around the world gather at the IGF, which is a multi-stakeholder conference in Egypt and this agreement reflects the tremendous progress Egypt has made in the promotion of Information and communication technologies (ICT) and serves as a fitting venue for the signing.

“FOSI has had an outstanding past year, with flagship conferences in Paris and Washington, DC and we foresee a busy upcoming year with the first FOSI conference in the Kingdom of Bahrain on January 18-20, 2010,” said David Miles, FOSI Director of Europe, Middle East & Africa. “This agreement highlights not only the relevant role FOSI plays in the international Internet safety space, but also demonstrates the huge strides the Egyptian Government has made in creating a safer, better Internet for its citizens. Further, it reflects FOSI’s continued international growth in membership and commitment to work with governments to build a culture of responsibility amongst all digital citizens.

The agreement will commit both parties to work together to promote digital citizenship in Egypt, the Arab World and wider international community, a further development to the existing activities of the Cyber Peace Initiative of The Movement. It will include cooperation in a number of online safety initiatives and the convening of a workshop in Egypt to explore current protection tools and identify trends in family online safety. This will enable Egypt and the region to take into account best practices and inform future strategy, in light of the Regional Arab on Line Safety Project submitted by Egypt and approved by the Council of Arab Ministers of CIT in 2009. The agreement will foster the exchange of expertise and knowledge sharing between FOSI and the cyber peace initiative.  FOSI will also join the Cyber Peace Initiative International Board and both organizations will seek to collaborate in a number of other important projects over the next two years.

Hoda Baraka, the First Deputy to the Minister at the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information said:

“The agreement with FOSI is a remarkable step forward in our Cyber Peace Initiative work, as it brings on board a large community of experts which represent the members of FOSI.  We hope that the cooperation will provide a strong momentum for identifying the appropriate e-safety technology solutions in the region”.

Nagwa Shoeb, Director General of the Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement said:

 “The agreement supports our vision for the Cyber Peace Initiative as a public private social partnership.  Cooperation with international NGOs is an excellent venue for learning and sharing experiences in the benefit of our region”

For more information on this Memorandum of Understanding and FOSI’s wider work, visit www.smwipm.cyberpeaceinitiative.org and www.fosi.org.

About the Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement

First of its kind to emanate from the Middle East, the  Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement (SMWIPM) works internationally, regionally and locally, pooling expertise and experience to enhance peace, justice and development in our societies. It partners with diverse stakeholders including the civil society, government, the private sector and the media to eradicate violence in all its forms by activating the power of women and youth to participate as key influencers, change agents and active partners in peace processes.

By promoting dialogue, advocacy and awareness through our diverse initiatives, the association helps women and youth develop the skills to initiate and spread understanding, respect, and peace in their communities, their countries and around the world.

 The Cyber Peace Initiative of the SMWIPM is a key project of the NGO, working on using ICT to spread the culture of peace worldwide, and to empower youth in a Safe Knowledge Society.

About FOSI

The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) works to make the online world safe for kids and their families by identifying and promoting best practices, tools and methods that also respect free speech. FOSI’s members include: AOL, AT&T, Blue Coat Systems, Boodoo, BT Retail, Comcast, CompTIA, France Telecom, Google, GSM Association, Kingston Communications, Loopt, Microsoft, MySpace, NCTA, Ning, Nominum, Optenet, Privo, RuleSpace, Sprint, StreamShield, Symantec, Telefónica, TELMEX, The Wireless Foundation, Verizon, Yahoo!.

FOSI hosts an annual international conference to bring together Internet safety advocates from a variety of sectors, including global corporations, government, non-profits, academia and the media, to discuss the current pulse of online safety and emerging solutions that will enhance it. For more information, please visit www.fosi.org.

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Tools, Rules and Schools Needed to Connect the Next Billion Safely & Responsibly

FOSI hosts world’s foremost online safety conference and exhibition

Washington DC – November 4, 2009 - The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) will host the third annual online safety conference, Building a Culture of Responsibility: From Online Safety to Digital Citizenship in Washington, DC, beginning today to bring together leaders from government, industry, education and nonprofits to determine how to best encourage responsible use on the Internet. The conference convenes key players from the global Internet community to promote cyber citizenship and coordinate efforts to connect the next billion consumers safely and responsibly.

“FOSI has had a very busy year with a series of conferences and events held in Paris, London and in Washington,” said FOSI CEO Stephen Balkam. “It’s our hope that the annual conference brings all of the people and emerging ideas into one place to determine the best rules, tools and educational programs in schools to protect kids online. It is especially timely that we work together to build a Culture of Responsibility online, especially as broadband expands to more and more family homes.”

Natasha Jackson, the current FOSI Chair and head of content policy for GSM Association will open the conference with welcoming remarks.

“Digital citizenship is a lesson that should be incorporated into every classroom, in every part of the world,” said Jackson. “The FOSI conference has become the leading international event where thought leaders are convening to tackle the complicated issue of online safety.”

Kyle McSlarrow, president and CEO of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) will give the keynote speech.

“As the nation’s leading broadband provider, online safety and digital literacy have been a top priority of the cable industry for many years and we will continue to explore new ways to help consumers better understand how to become safe and responsible digital citizens,” said McSlarrow.  “We are proud to partner with a great organization like FOSI that has been hard at work helping promote the best practices, tools and methods in online safety to make the Internet safer for all who use it.”

At the conference, FOSI will preview for the first time, the Global Resource and Information Directory (GRID). GRID, which will be launched in 2010, is a ground-breaking online portal that will be the first to collate, consolidate and track family online safety initiatives and programs around the globe. GRID is an unmatched resource that will bring online safety efforts from countries worldwide into one, easy-to-search hub. FOSI will also highlight the successful year with a FOSI Year in Review Video 2009.

This year the FOSI conference is expanded into a two-day format to accommodate over 80 speakers, 15 panels and 31 exhibitors. On Wednesday, November 4, FOSI will award nine recipients with a FOSI Award for Outstanding Achievement. Winners include Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch, Dr. Tanya Byron, iKeepSafe President Marsali Hancock, You Tube’s Victoria Grand, Emily Hancock with Yahoo!, Harriet Novet with Time Warner Cable and Ed Palmieri with Sprint.

FOSI will also issue three reports on pressing issues facing adolescents: Sexting in the USA, Self Harm in the Digital Age and Cyberbullying - A Global Concern.

For more information on the conference, the speakers or the award recipients, visit www.fosi.org. Follow the conference on Twitter: #fosi09.

About FOSI
The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) works to make the online world safe for kids and their families by identifying and promoting best practices, tools and methods that also respect free speech. FOSI’s members include: AOL, AT&T, Blue Coat, BT Retail, Cisco, Comcast, Computing Technology Industry Association, Crisp Thinking, France Telecom/Orange, Google, GSMA, Loopt, Microsoft, Mpower Media, MySpace, Ning, Nominum, Optenet, Privo, Rulespace, Sentinel, Sprint, StreamShield, Symantec, Telefónica, Telmex, The Wireless Foundation, Verizon and Yahoo!. FOSI hosts an annual international conference to bring together Internet safety advocates from a variety of sectors, including global corporations, government, non-profits, academia and the media, to discuss the current pulse of online safety and emerging solutions that will enhance it.