Family Online Safety Institute

FOSI Launches Unique Family Online Safety Portal

Global Resource and Information Directory (GRID) is a ground breaking & comprehensive new online safety resource.

LONDON - The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) today launches the Professional Edition of its Global Resource and Information Directory (GRID) at the House of Lords, Westminster.

GRID allows professionals to monitor and track safety initiatives, education efforts, legislation and organizations engaged in Internet safety around the world. Extensive profiles currently exist for over 150 countries, the 50 states of America and all 10 Canadian provinces. GRID also features commentary from world renowned experts on the latest trends and topics.

Comprehensive directories contained within the portal detail the work of industry as well as defining current online challenges. The quarterly review, moderated by experts, ensures that professionals are kept up-to-date with changes in the fast moving world of online safety. GRID uses the very latest technology, including interactive maps, timelines and search options for a simple, user-friendly approach.

"We are thrilled to launch GRID and showcase the multitude of comprehensive resources it offers," said Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI. "We believe that the Professional Edition will prove to be an invaluable asset for anyone remotely interested in the many and complex facets of the online safety world."

"FOSI's GRID is a remarkable and ground breaking achievement! Nothing can prepare you for the depth, quality and scale of the family online safety content that GRID delivers. It provides a vital and important new collaborative tool for industry, government and online safety professionals throughout the world.", said Professor Tanya Byron, author of 'Safer Children in a Digital World' and 'Do We Have Safer Children in a Digital World'.

Speaking on behalf of Verizon, the primary sponsor for GRID, Michael McKeehan, Executive Director, Internet & Technology Policy said, "GRID is the only resource of its type for up-to-date, reliable information about online safety. Educators, government officials, industry experts and others concerned about online safety will find this database to be extremely useful. Verizon is very pleased with the outcome of this project."

GRID is available through subscription and priced according to size and type of organization, with single user, multi-key or enterprise subscription levels. To subscribe or receive a free trial of GRID go to http://www.fosigrid.org and select the Learn more about GRID button. GRID is provided free of charge to FOSI members.

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, Boodoo, BT Retail, Comcast, Entertainment Software Association, Facebook, France Telecom, Google, GSM Association, Kingston Communications, Loopt, Microsoft, MySpace, NCTA, Ning, Nominum, Optenet, RuleSpace, Sprint, StreamShield, Symantec, Time Warner Cable, 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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Microsoft to Chair FOSI Board

Microsoft assumes leadership to help protect families on the web

WASHINGTON - The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) announced today that Kim Sanchez, senior group manager in the Trustworthy Computing division at Microsoft Corporation, will become the next chair of the FOSI Board of Directors. Online safety and privacy issues are a priority for Microsoft, as Sanchez has represented Microsoft on the FOSI board for two years.

"FOSI works day-in and day-out to build a Culture of Responsibility online and our board members play a major role in identifying and promoting the best tools, rules and education programs in schools to make surfing the Internet safer for families," said Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI. "Microsoft has been a very active and involved member of FOSI and we are excited for Kim to assume the leadership role and further distinguish FOSI as a leader in the field."

"FOSI has emerged over the past couple of years as an international leader in online safety, and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the chair of this wonderful board," said Sanchez. "Families are presented with new online safety challenges, and we are working to provide the resources to help families safely navigate the online world. Microsoft is dedicated to developing technologies, engaging in partnerships and offering guidance to keep families safer online."

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, Entertainment Software Association, Facebook, France Telecom, Google, GSM Association, Kingston Communications, Loopt, Microsoft, MySpace, NCTA, Ning, Nominum, Optenet, RuleSpace, Sprint, StreamShield, Symantec, Time Warner Cable, 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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Game On: Entertainment Software Association Joins FOSI

WASHINGTON - The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) today announced the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the trade association exclusively dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies that publish computer and video games for video game consoles, personal computers and the Internet, joined as a member.

ESA's member base includes companies such as Electronic Arts, Nintendo of America, Inc., Disney Interactive Studios, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment America and MTV Games, among others. As an organization whose member companies offer products so frequently used by children and families, FOSI, FOSI membership, and parents across America will benefit by the ESA's voice and success in the connected space.

"We are very excited to have ESA contribute its leadership and experience as we strive to develop effective tools, rules and educational programs to help make the Internet safer," said Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI. "Video games have become a major onramp for many children and adults to enter the online world and we're honored to have the computer and video game industry as a resource with its remarkable leadership and positive accomplishments."

"We look forward to contributing to FOSI's mission and helping ensure that computer and video games remain enjoyable and safe for the millions of children and families who enjoy our industry's remarkable games," said Michael Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA. "Joining FOSI will allow our industry to share our best practices and contribute to the broader conversation on pro-family Internet policies."

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, Entertainment Software Association, Facebook, France Telecom, Google, GSM Association, Kingston Communications, Loopt, Microsoft, MySpace, NCTA, Ning, Nominum, Optenet, RuleSpace, Sprint, StreamShield, Symantec, Time Warner Cable, 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 ESA
The ESA is the U.S. association exclusively dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies that publish computer and video games for video game consoles, personal computers, and the Internet. The ESA offers a range of services to interactive entertainment software publishers including a global anti-piracy program, business and consumer research, government relations and intellectual property protection efforts.

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FOSI Welcomes OSTWG Report Recommendations

WASHINGTON - The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) applauds today's final report of the Online Safety and Technology Working Group (OSTWG) for recognizing that there is no single solution to keeping kids safe online and finding that all stakeholders including parents, industry, educators, and government must work to improve online safety.

FOSI also welcomes OSTWG's inclusion of information about the Global Resource and Information Directory (GRID), an effort by FOSI to bring together information, initiatives and best practices in the field of online safety from every country into one website. The report recommends the creation of a web-based clearinghouse to make online safety research available and after a public launch on July 26th, GRID will act as a similar resource.

"I'm pleased to see that OSTWG emphasizes the vital role that education can play to help reduce online risks and understands that for many kids, the real world and virtual world are not separate spaces," said Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI. "This report acknowledges the dynamic nature of the Internet and suggests practical solutions to help the government, schools, and families deal with the challenges that children face online."

"Online risks have now become fully meshed with real-world risks," said OSTWG co-chair and FOSI Board Member Hemanshu Nigam. "Each member of society that helps raise a child must combine online and physical world safety lessons, one can no longer occur without the other."

One of the recommendations of this report is to improve inter-agency coordination and public awareness-raising at the federal level. FOSI strongly believes that this is needed and has called for the Federal Government to create an inter-agency council to develop and implement an online safety strategy at the national level since 2008.

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, Entertainment Software Association, Facebook, France Telecom, Google, GSM Association, Kingston Communications, Loopt, Microsoft, MySpace, NCTA, Ning, Nominum, Optenet, RuleSpace, Sprint, StreamShield, Symantec, Time Warner Cable, 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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