Events Archive

Back-to-school season marks a huge transition for many children and teens, including the introduction of new technologies both at school and at home. Additionally, as we continue to navigate the youth mental health crisis, a new school year can seem more stressful than ever. What role does tech play in youth mental health? As schools become more and more integrated with digital devices, will young peoples’ mental health be affected? What role can tech play in strengthening your child’s mental health? What online safety measures can we take to make sure young people have a safe, successful and mentally healthy school year?

According to the 2023 LGBTQ+ Youth Report conducted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, more than two-thirds of LGBTQ+ youth participate in online communities specifically to engage with other LGBTQ+ people in their age group. Virtually all LGBTQ+ youth, as well as transgender or gender-expansive youth, have used the internet to find information that helps them understand their LGBTQ+ identity. Unfortunately, roughly half of all LGBTQ+ youth have experienced cyberbullying based on their identity. On Thursday June 20th, FOSI hosted an evening virtual webinar discussion, where we heard opening remarks from FOSI's Jonathon Bridgeman, before Ellen Kahn (Human Rights Campaign Foundation) presented key findings from HRC's report. Ellen then lead a discussion featuring two teens and their parents who shared how they safely navigate the Internet, what tools and resources they use to connect to the LGBTQ+ community online, and how they keep themselves and their communities safe.

On Wednesday, June 5th, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted its 2024 European Forum, “A Transatlantic Dialogue,” Microsoft’s offices in Paris.This event brought together key government leaders and regulators working to advance online safety, to discuss international regulatory developments. We featured a series of insightful panels, fireside chats, and networking opportunities, aiming to foster a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape and future directions of online safety across the globe.

On May 8, 2024, FOSI hosted their first California state policy event in Sacramento, California. Tami Bhaumik, the VP of Civility and Partnerships at Roblox & FOSI Board Chair, provided opening remarks. California Assemblymember Josh Hoover provided a keynote address.

In the past year, AI and genAI have become increasingly prevalent in our daily lives. What does this mean for caregivers and policymakers who are working to keep children safe online? Recent FOSI research shows that young people are looking for guidance when it comes to AI/genAI, and caregivers currently have a unique opportunity to educate their children about the topic. Policymakers are also beginning to consider the effects AI/genAI can have on families and children. States, the federal government, and Europe have all taken different regulatory steps in order to limit the risks while reaping the rewards of these technologies. On February 15th, FOSI hosted a discussion between genAI researcher Michelle Dickens (Kantar) and a parent and teen who participated in FOSI's recent research report, followed by a robust discussion about the policy implications that stem from FOSI’s recent research with Samir Jain (Center for Democracy and Technology). The conversation was moderated by FOSI's CEO Stephen Balkam. ‍

The FOSI 2023 Annual Conference: New Frontiers in Online Safety was held in-person on Monday, November 13, at the InterContinental Washington D.C. - The Wharf. FOSI’s Annual Conference is the premier online safety event of the year, and we hosted robust discussions around safety in our ever-changing digital world. Top experts debated on topics such as content moderation, privacy policies and practices, digital wellbeing, and more. We delved into the latest research around critical issues such as AI, and practical approaches to ethics, safety, and parenting in the online space.

If it feels like we’ve been here before, it’s because we have. On July 27, 2022, the Senate Commerce Committee passed both COPPA 2.0 and KOSA out of Committee and sent them to the full Senate. The bills did not advance any further before the session ended, and were reintroduced earlier this year. On July 27, 2023, exactly one year later, the Senate Commerce Committee again passed both bills out of Committee, with some updates and amendments. So, now what?On October 4, FOSI hosted an in-person lunch briefing on Capitol Hill to discuss the recent changes to these privacy and safety bills, the path to pass both of these bills, and what each would mean for our online lives. Child privacy and safety champion Senator Edward J. Markey delivered opening remarks, before a panel discussion featuring passionate stakeholders.

Over the past two years online safety policy has become a top priority throughout state capitals. While many states have embraced their own unique cultures and taken different approaches from each other, it is clear that protecting children online is a bipartisan issue. We started this FOSI Briefs the States event series to highlight these recent policy developments and discuss the important, nuanced, and timely issue that is online safety.

Getting kids back in the classroom this Fall means tackling tech use from many different angles. In the coming months, parents will be contending with how to balance the extra screen time needed for homework, helping kids navigate complex social dynamics online, and striving to teach them what good behavior looks like by example. Additionally, both parents and kids are learning about generative AI in real time, and how these brand new technologies will impact academics and learning as well as everyday life.

On June 27th, FOSI hosted its annual European Forum at the Google Safety Engineering Center in Dublin, Ireland. This event, titled “Regulating and Innovating Online Safety,” featured top representatives across industry, government, academia, and the charity sector as they debated the implications of current and pending global legislation, best practices surrounding AI, digital wellbeing, and more.

Growing up in a society where acceptance of one’s identity isn’t guaranteed can have adverse effects on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth. Recent research from The Trevor Project found that negative treatment at home and at school, as well as legislation targeting members of the LGBTQ+ community, result in negative impacts on young queer peoples’ mental health. Like most young people, LGBTQ+ teens are increasingly connecting with their community online. In these digital spaces, they can often find the acceptance and affirmation that’s lacking in other areas of their social experience. On Thursday, June 15th, FOSI a webinar discussion centered on the connection between digital life and mental health within the LGBTQ+ community, and the organizations harnessing those connections to create safe spaces online to affirm and empower LGBTQ+ young people. Panelists discussed ways in which parents, educators, and family members can protect and support LGBTQ+ youth both online and offline, and the many resources that are available for youth to access positive and uplifting communities and live as their authentic selves.

Online safety policy has been one of the most bipartisan areas of collaboration recently and jurisdictions are racing to create new regulations that protect their citizens. States across the U.S. are no exception, as the past few years have seen dozens of bills advance through legislatures including the establishment of data privacy rights, new requirements for online content moderation, age restrictions for accessing social media, and age-appropriate design codes. Maryland is one such state, as the 2023 legislative session included the introduction and advancement of the Maryland Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (also known as the Kids Code) and the Social Media Regulation and Safety for Children. The Kids Code, modeled after California’s act that became law last year and the UK’s Age Appropriate Design Code, passed the House of Delegates but did not advance out of the Senate. The Social Media Regulation would require platforms to delete all data on children under 13 or face a fine, and also did not advance this past session.

On February 21 and 22, the Supreme Court heard two cases that have the power to drastically change some of the apps and platforms we use every day. In Gonzalez v. Google and Twitter v. Taamneh, the Justices examined whether or not online platforms can be held liable for decisions made by algorithms and content recommendation systems that are core to the function of their products. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 has provided relative immunity to platforms for decades, saying that online platforms cannot be held liable for content that users write or post on their sites and apps. These two cases will test how far Section 230 protections extend and if justices will differentiate between users’ online posts and platform design features that amplify or minimize the spread of content.

The FOSI 2022 Annual Conference, Trust & Assurance: Online Safety in an Uncertain World took place in-person on Monday, November 14, at the InterContinental Washington D.C. - The Wharf. FOSI convened the best online safety thinkers, practitioners, and experts from around the world for high-level discussions and debates, engaging networking opportunities, and a first-class exhibition of online safety technologies, products and services. Attendees had the chance to explore topics such as content moderation, privacy policies and practices, safety in the metaverse, digital wellbeing, and much more. Video recordings of the plenary sessions are available on the FOSI YouTube channel.

Congress has been quite productive on kids’ digital safety and privacy policy this summer. Senate and House committees advanced the first major reforms to online privacy in decades, and introduced the very first federal bill that focuses specifically on online safety. The Senate Commerce Committee passed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0), while the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA). These are significant developments, but the bills still face some obstacles before becoming law.

On September 7th, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted a webinar on Emotional Intelligence and EdTech: Essentials for 21st Century Classrooms. This panel of experts was moderated by Laura Tierney of The Social Institute, and featured Jimmeka Anderson of the National Association for Media Literacy Education; Richard Culatta of the International Society for Technology in Education; and Amy Koester of the Association of Library Service to Children.

On Thursday, 23rd June, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted the 2022 European Forum - our first in-person event since 2019. Hosted in partnership with event sponsor, Google, with additional sponsorship and support provided by TikTok and Yoti, the event aimed to capture multiple perspectives on the online safety landscape between the US, UK, and Europe.

This Congress has seen a bevy of legislation focused on regulating popular technology products, services, and platforms. Dozens of bills have been introduced regarding antitrust, data privacy, content moderation, and most importantly for this discussion, online safety.

As the digital world expands into new frontiers across virtual and augmented realities, the metaverse, and more, it is imperative that the safety of young people remains paramount. Coming together in online spaces is commonplace for today’s youth as they navigate complex social lives, academics, and growing up in an increasingly virtual world. On March 1st, we welcomed four youth speakers from across the US and EU for a transatlantic dialogue about the challenges and opportunities that technology brings to their lives. As part of their work on Microsoft’s Council for Digital Good, panelists discussed how media literacy, digital citizenship, and personal safety impacts peers in their communities and around the globe. 

On Tuesday, February 15th, the Family Online Safety Institute and Aura, a provider of intelligent safety solutions, convened a panel discussion entitled, “Teen Relationships: The Good, The Bad, & How Parents Can Help in a Digital World.” Stephen Balkam, FOSI’s Founder & CEO moderated the conversation between these leading experts: Dr. David Greenfield of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction; Erica Olsen of the National Network to End Domestic Violence; Rita Smith of DomesticShelters.org; and Ryan Toohil of Aura.

On November 15th, FOSI hosted its live, virtual 2021 Annual Conference, Recovery & Renewal: Creating a path to a new normal. This year’s event highlighted our most important insights from this past pandemic year, to ensure our new normal includes revamped best practices for ourselves, our families, and our world.

As kids and teens head back to school, families across the country and around the world are facing new challenges for this unusual school year. Students are returning to classrooms in a variety of ways, including online, hybrid, and in person — alongside anxious thoughts, worry, and apprehension.

As a post-pandemic world begins to emerge, we find ourselves in a drastically altered “new normal” when it comes to the online world.

As kids and teens spend more time on screens and devices, the impact on their mental health must be considered.

On Thursday March 11, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted the latest installment of its FOSI Briefs the Hill series, “In Conversation With Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) and Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10).” 

This online workshop compared attitudes toward digital parenting in the US and APAC regions, bringing together representatives & participants from industry, civil society, academic and the public sector to discuss online safety, how we think of digital citizenship and how to respond to the many challenges and opportunities that digital technology poses to children and families.

On November 18th, we hosted the premier online safety event of 2020 – live and virtual! This year’s event, “Building Resilience,” covered the many changing elements of online life, for ourselves, our families, and our world. The inherent obstacles and vast benefits of the digital world have become apparent to all of us now more than ever, and we explored these issues against the backdrop of a quickly changing social and cultural landscape.

As many families prepare for distance learning during this unprecedented back-to-school season, concerns around the efficacy of virtual education and increased screen time are coming to the forefront.

In July 2020, the stories leading our news cycle have immediate impacts on public health, social dynamics, and the state of democracy in the face of an upcoming US election. The ways in which information on these topics has been disseminated shows how easily false and misleading coverage can spread online, making it difficult to prioritize safety and accuracy.

As coronavirus lockdowns worldwide have increased the hours per day that kids and teens spend online, so have their use of gaming platforms. For parents, this raises many common concerns around gaming such as compulsive overuse, age appropriate imagery, and how to mitigate potential safety risks.

The global pandemic has upended the rhythm of life for most families. Parents are either doing their best to homeschool their kids while working from home, or heading out to do essential jobs. Kids are missing the structure and routine of school, extracurricular activities, sports - and now even summer camp is endangered.

This webinar will follow a report of online child sexual abuse material from its first detection to final prosecution, shining a light on the work of the essential actors who combat the spread of this illegal content. In a series of expert presentations, representatives from industry, non-profits, law enforcement, and the Department of Justice will go behind the numbers and examine what goes into a report and how working together can eradicate this material from the Internet.

The full webinar discussion between Stephen Balkam, Trisha Prabhu, and Rosalind Wiseman can be viewed here.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtsoonfpmqYRecent stats have shown us that kids' time spent on devices is surging during the pandemic. As their social lives and educational environment move entirely online, will it mean an increase in bad behavior and bullying?On Tuesday, May 12, Stephen Balkam, Founder & CEO of FOSI, moderated a discussion about digital citizenship and civility. For the parents of younger kids who may not have started the conversation yet, as well as tech savvy teens, now is the time to create guidance on how they can use technology for good, treat others well, and cultivate a positive presence in what is now a completely virtual world. How can we work to create a message of togetherness while staying apart?

Encryption’s purpose has always been to defend information from unauthorized access. This joint webinar with ACT | The App Association explored how strong encryption is used to protect vulnerable populations from theft, violence, and privacy harms, address law enforcement challenges, and evaluate policy proposals that may impact encryption.

How on earth do we maintain balance in our families’ digital lives during the unprecedented times that we are in? What strategies and tools can we use to create some semblance of normalcy while our kids are suddenly learning at home, and we are struggling to either work remotely or bring in child care in order to run essential services?

This event convened leaders across industry, government, academia, and the nonprofit sector to discuss a wide spectrum of topics within the areas of best practice in technology policy, digital parenting, privacy, ethics, and artificial intelligence, among many more.

On October 2nd, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted a panel discussion on Inclusion, Accessibility and Tech. The panel was moderated by Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI, and featured expert speakers Kate Brunick of Zero to Three; Michael Phillips of AARP; Gerard Williams of the Federal Communications Commission; and Terry Jackson of the Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.

Register now to attend our latest briefing on kids and online privacy. We will be discussing the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), legislative proposals from Capitol Hill, the current privacy regime, and best practices for industry.This expert panel will bring their unique perspectives to an exciting and timely debate.

FOSI brings together an expert panel on kids, technology, and the next generation of toys. Have you ever wondered how companies develop safe and private digital experiences for young kids? What are the impacts of toddlers having tablets? What's the right balance between physical and virtual play? And what are the policy implications of all of this? Join us for a morning briefing and learn more.

On March 29th, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted a briefing featuring key trends and statistics from its most recent research survey, Online Safety Across the Generations. The 2018 report surveyed both parents and seniors about online safety and the concerns and benefits of using technology with their family, with oversampling among African-American, Latino, and low income families. The research was conducted by Hart Research Associates and supported by Comcast.

On Thursday, November 15th, FOSI held its 2018 Annual Conference, “Creating a Culture of Responsibility Online.” The event was opened by FOSI CEO Stephen Balkam and Sheldon Himelfarb, President and CEO of PeaceTech Lab. Both spoke about the societal responsibility that has come with the rapid evolution of our connected life and the need to ensure that development in this space must be crafted in a way that can be positive.

The Family Online Safety Institute hosted an interactive happy hour briefing on the latest advancements in tools and resources to limit screen time, protect children, and ensure balance in our increasingly connected lives. Representatives from top tech companies exhibited their technologies developed to respond to the modern-day internet safety challenges families face. Attendees tried out products and engaged with experts to learn more about managing their digital lives and finding balance for their families’ technology use.

The Family Online Safety Institute hosted a FOSI Briefs the Hill event focused on the issue of screen time and “technology addiction.” The roles of parents, industry, government, and pediatricians were discussed in depth.

On Tuesday, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted a briefing featuring Congressman Ted Lieu (CA-33) focused on the challenges and opportunities of our increasingly connected lives.

FOSI hosted its 11th Annual Conference on November 16th, 2017 at the Knight Conference Center at the Newseum. Speakers and participants addressed a wide range of issues that weaken trust, safety and civility online and the positive ways to respond to those challenges.

For decades, Cuba has been shielded from the digital revolution that has spread around the world. But that is changing. This new film dives into the stories behind the statistics.

On June 28th, FOSI convened a roundtable on “Connected Families: The Risks and Opportunities of Connected Devices, Toys and Cars” at the GSMA in London. The event was made possible by sponsorship from Microsoft.

FOSI held its 10th Annual Conference in Washington, DC on December 1st. The event was titled "Online Safety in Transition", and focused on new developments in online safety and policy.

This event features the screenings of two short films, "The Adaptable Mind" and "ParenTechnology", followed by a Q&A panel discussion with the filmmaker, Tiffany Shlain.

From talking toys to the rise of virtual and augmented reality, this event will explore the ways that new technologies and interactive products will affect kids and families.

On November 17th and 18th the Family Online Safety Institute held its 9th Annual Conference in Washington, DC. This year's conference, entitled "Risks. Harms. Rewards", focused on the many benefits, opportunities, and challenges our online lives can bring us.

On October 19th FOSI hosted a book talk with renowned MIT Professor Sherry Turkle at Amazon’s office in Washington, DC. Professor Turkle and FOSI’s CEO Stephen Balkam sat down to discuss Turkle’s new book “Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age,” which investigates tech users’ flight from conversations and encourages readers to remember what they know about life and conversations.

On September 16th FOSI and Telecom Italia co-hosted an online safety conference in Rome. This event brought together some of the most prominent experts in online safety from the US, UK and Europe and featured the latest European research, and also highlighted best practices in Internet safety.

On June 16th FOSI and Intel Security will host a breakfast briefing to present the latest research on how parents and teens use the Internet.

On May 12th the Family Online Safety Institute, with support from Google, Facebook, Twitter and Orange, held its 7th Annual European Forum. The event, held in Brussels, brought together a unique group of speakers to discuss the digital rights of the child, safety by design, positive content for kids, and the future of online safety.

On April 29th on Capitol Hill the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), myCollegeOptions, Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) and other partners announce the findings of Phase One: Access to Technology from the seven stage comprehensive study Taking the Pulse of High School Student Experiences in America.

On March 2nd the Family Online Safety Institute held a panel discussion about the Internet of Things.

On November 12th and 13th the Family Online Safety Institute held it's 8th Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The event, titled "Redefining Online Safety", broached the ever-evolving notion of online safety, and discussed what this concept really means in today's world.

On September 10th the Family Online Safety Institute held a screening of “Cyber-Seniors – Connecting Generations”, a moving documentary that chronicles a group of senior citizens as they learn how to become more connected online through the assistance of teenage mentors.

With the support of Congressman Jared Polis, FOSI convened a panel on Capitol Hill to talk about the challenges and opportunities offered through the collection of student data.

On May 22nd, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted its 2014 European Forum in Paris. The event, titled “Creating a Better Internet”, focused on the European Union’s commitment to build not just a safer Internet but a better Internet for children and teenagers. The event drew on those creating innovative and educational content for children, as well as those in industry, law enforcement and government who are working to ensure that children have safe and productive online experiences.

On April 10th FOSI convened a roundtable discussion hosted and sponsored by Google in Mexico City. The event entitled ‘Local, Regional, and Global Trends in Online Safety’ bought together non-profit organizations, government, industry and academics to discuss the latest initiatives, opportunities and challenges in keeping children safe on the Internet as more people go online in Mexico and Latin America.

On November 6th and 7th the Family Online Safety Institute hosted their 7th Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The two-day event, entitled "Connect. Share. Empower" drew together many of the key themes in online safety and privacy from the US, Europe and Australia. The event took place at the Ronald Reagan Building and featured a wide array of speakers and attendees from around the world.

On September 9th, the Family Online Safety Institute hosted an "in conversation" event featuring a one-on-one discussion between FOSI CEO Stephen Balkam and New York Times bestselling author Rosalind Wiseman, in New York City.

The Family Online Safety Institute, with the support of Congressman Honda, hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill on August 20th, 2013 designed to cover the breadth of privacy issues that touch on the lives of teens.

On June 24th, 2013, the Family Online Safety Institute and Telstra partnered to host a forum titled Global Digital Citizenship: Encouraging Safe and Responsible Online Use. The event was held at Telstra’s head office in Melbourne, Australia, and provided the opportunity for participants to engage with other members of industry, academics, government officials, and the non-profit sector and openly discuss the issues, challenges, and opportunities that arise in online safety. In addition to sponsorship by Telstra, this event was further supported by Microsoft, Google, and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

On May 15th, 2013, the Family Online Safety Institute was delighted to host its annual European Forum at Google’s EU Headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. With a focus on online safety, data protection and privacy, this event gave the opportunity for our delegates and attendees to discuss these critical issues and exchange ideas, opinions, strategies and priorities.

On March 7th 2013, FOSI and the House of Sweden co-hosted a seminar to discuss how youth and teens engage in social platforms online, and whether or not there is a difference in the way young people are exposed to exploitation online from a gender equality perspective. The seminar also showcased methods on pro-active work to prevent exposure online.

On January 10th FOSI convened a highly interactive panel at the National Press Club in Washington, DC to discuss the changes to the COPPA Rule. The event bought together key players from industry, the FTC, academics and non-profits to debate the revisions.

On November 14th and 15th the Family Online Safety Institute hosted their sixth Annual Conference at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington D.C. The two day event, entitled ‘A Safer Internet for All,’ explored a wide variety of issues around Internet use, privacy, safety and connectivity. For the first time the discussions encompassed the opportunities that new technologies offer for development work and their global impact in addition to more traditional topics.

On September 19th, 2012 FOSI held a closed-door roundtable event in London that brought together members of industry, law enforcement, government and civil society for discusion about child online safety in the US, UK and Europe.

The Family Online Safety Institute launched a new interactive website to help parents, teachers and teens connect, share and do good online. A Platform for Good features interactive experiences and resources that encourages conversation about how to safely and responsibly navigate our digital world; as well as blogs and stories that highlight ways technology can be used to advance social good.

The Family Online Safety Institute and the Association for Competitive Technology hosted a panel discussion on August 9 to brief lawmakers, staff, and interested parties about the FTC's amended proposed changes to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

In light of the issues presented by the European Union's CEO Coalition 'to make the Internet a better place for kids,' as well as to discuss the importance of crafting a global response, to ensure children have safe and private online experiences, FOSI held a highly interactive forum to explore these issues with the EU Commission, Parliament, key industry players and civil society.

FOSI and ictQATAR partnered to host a two-day conference in Doha, Qatar looking at key online safety issues affecting the Middle East region and discussing broader global issues.

A panel to discuss the ways young people interact online, how they manage their privacy, and common misconceptions of adults when it comes to cyberbullying.

On November 9 & 10, 2011, the Family Online Safety Institute held its fifth Annual Conference, “Evaluate. Innovate. Collaborate. Strategies for Safe and Healthy Online Use” at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington D.C. The conference featured over 80 speakers, 26 exhibitors and more than 450 attendees from 13 different countries.

Luncheon discussion of the FTC's proposed revisions to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

On September 21st, 2011, FOSI and Yahoo! convened a group of experts for an invite-only roundtable held in Sunnyvale, California. The topic of conversation for the afternoon was focused on parental controls following on from the research commissioned by FOSI, released the previous week.

On September 14, 2011, the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) launched the results of “Who Needs Parental Controls?” a survey indicating that the majority of parents use tools and rules to control their kids’ online usage. Following a presentation of the newfound data by Hart Research associate Abigail Davenport, a panel composed of representatives from sponsor companies AT&T, Google, Microsoft and Verizon, and moderated by Adam Thierer, discussed the possible implications of the results.

On Tuesday, May 10, 2011, FOSI held its 3rd Annual European Conference in London, hosted by BT. Topics included discussions around privacy, data retention, mobile usage, digital citizenship, research findings and public policy developments in the US, UK and Europe.

On February 24th, 2011 a joint event by Google and FOSI drew a large crowd to hear William Powers, author of Hamlet's BlackBerry, in conversation with FOSI CEO Stephen Balkam. The lively discussion covered a wide range of topics from Plato to Gutenberg and from the virtues of technology to its overuse.

On November 9th and 10th, 2010, FOSI held its fourth Annual Conference, “Internet Freedom, Safety and Citizenship: A Global Call to Action.” The two day event was held at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington D.C and welcomed over 400 attendees, 90 speakers and 31 exhibitors from around the world.

Launch of FOSI's Professional Edition of GRID, its new family online safety portal

The Progress & Freedom Foundation and FOSI co-hosted an event focused on the recent release of the report to Congress, "Youth Safety on a Living Internet: Report of the Online Safety and Technology Working Group."

With 250 attendees and a over 40 speakers from more than 12 countries, FOSI's 2nd Annual European Conference was hosted by Telefonica and sponsored by AT&T, Rulespace and Nominum.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the Kingdom of Bahrain in partnership with the Family Online Safety Institute hosted a landmark conference with over 250 attendees from 15 countries. This invite-only conference brought together specialists from the region but also from around the world to engage all stakeholders in this Web 2.0 challenge, to prepare Bahrain and the surrounding countries for 21st century citizenship.

On February 25, FOSI hosted a screening of "digital_nation" the newest documentary by Frontline producer, Rachel Dretzin, at NCTA's theater in Washington, D.C. "digital-nation" focuses on the impact of technology on modern life.

On November 4th and 5th, 2009, the Family Online Safety Institute held its 3rd Annual Conference. This year's event attracted 400 attendees, 80 speakers and 31 exhibitors from 15 countries.

On September 16, 2009, the Family Online Safety Institute held a one-day European Conference designed to bring together key industry figures, experts, government representatives and the wider stakeholder community, to discuss how to ensure a continued and successful international push for global digital citizenship and safe and responsible online use. With over a 100 attendees, from 75 organizations, 15 countries and 4 continents this conference proved an oustanding success.

FOSI and the law firm Womble Carlyle hosted a Wednesdays with Winston luncheon panel on August 26, 2009 and attracted an expert panel and knowledgeable audience for what proved to be a lively debate. Panelists included Molly Crawford of the FTC, Jules Polonetsky from the Future of Privacy Forum, Microsoft’s Frank Torres and Jennifer Kashatus of Womble Carlyle. Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI, moderated the discussion. The debate focused on the role of the Federal Trade Commission in online safety and covered topics such as Online Behavioural Advertising and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

On June 24, 2009 FOSI and the law firm Womble Carlyle hosted the second of the lunchtime panel series, Wednesdays with Winston. The focus of this Wednesdays with Winston was on the Federal Communications Commission’s Notice of Inquiry (“NOI”) on the Child Safe Viewing Act.

Hosted by the GSM Association and in conjunction with the Family Online Safety Institute this two day of international roundtable brought together some of the leading academics, industry thinkers and child advocates. With attendees from 58 organizations, 7 countires and 3 continents it provided a unique insight into the issues and challenges that an ever more pervasive Internet brings.

FOSI’s June Hill Panel, titled “Is it Possible to Legislate Safety?” featured Mercedes Salem from the office of Representative Linda Sanchez; Jason Tuber from the office of Senator Robert Menendez; and Adam Thierer of the Progress and Freedom Foundation. The discussion, moderated by FOSI CEO Stephen Balkam, focused on the recent introduction of two pieces of legislation on Capitol Hill: the Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act and the SAFE Internet Act. Each of the panelists shared their perspectives on these bills.

“What Goes Online, Stays Online: Protecting Online Reputations in a Sexting Cyberspace,” was the title of May’s ‘Online on Wednesday,’ panel discussion, which featured Monique Roth (Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section); Donna Rice Hughes (Enough is Enough); and Ting-Yi Oei (Assistant Vice Principal, Freedom High School in Loudon County, VA). The discussion focused on the issue of ‘sexting’, which refers to the recent phenomenon of kids sending sexually suggestive photos of themselves to other kids, who in turn post them on the Internet.

The Family Online Safety Institute and Womble Carlyle hosted the first in the “Wednesday with Winston” series, which focused on Privacy & Online Safety. The discussion centered on three items: education, legislation and technology. All the speakers agreed that education was key to increasing awareness of Internet Safety, and that parents, teachers, kids, law-enforcement and judges were important groups to target with education messages.

Over 100 participants attended FOSI and The Wireless Foundation’s conference in Washington DC on April 22nd, bringing together some of the best thinkers in mobile safety, from child advocacy groups and mommy bloggers to online safety curriculum creators, the wider Internet industry, academics and researchers, policymakers and think tanks.

The Family Online Safety Institute held their second “Online on Wednesday” panel at the new Capitol Visitor Center. Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI moderated a discussion on online safety education in schools that focused on what is being done and what needs to be done to protect kids. Bill Modzeleski with the Department of Education spoke to the audience for 10 minutes about education from a 35, 000 foot view and tied his comments into how the offline education world also applies to how students, teachers and administrators function in the cyber world. Both Stephen and Bill thanked AT&T for supporting the Hill panel series. Speakers on the panel included Marsali Hancock with iKeepSafe, Jim Teicher with CyberSmart! and Laurie Nathan with NetSmartz who discussed student behaviors online, including cyberbullying, texting and sexting. Panelists mentioned how schools play an important role in teaching students to be good digital citizens, but that schools are only part of the answer. Parents, the community, government, ISPs and law enforcement all need to work together. There were over 30 people present for the panel, including representatives from Cable in the Classroom, Yahoo!, NCMEC, Nominum, Eluminate, PFF, a reporter with Washington Internet Daily and five House staffers from offices such as Rep. Fallin and Rep. Reichert.