Senate Committee Calls for Adult Website Ratings

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 20, 2006 - 2:52am.

Washington - The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday called on the online adult entertainment industry to come up with a ratings system and clearly label its content as intended only for adults, CNET News.com reported. "Too few adult Web sites are taking the extra step to create another obstacle, another barrier, that can keep youngsters from accessing or stumbling on pornography," said Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.). CNET reported that a Web browser standard called Platform for Internet Content Selection (PICS) currently exists that allows parents to restrict access to websites rated as explicit, and many adult sites like Penthouse.com have so labeled themselves. The hearing came in the same week the Bush administration asked Google and other search engines to turn over data it intends to use in defense of the Child Online Protection Act, a law that would restrict explicit material on commercial websites.
http://tinyurl.com/7965g (CNET)