>Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2000 17:27:04 -0400 (EDT) >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] >X-JID: 602169 >Subject: U.S. Justice Department, Leading Technology Association Launch >Web Site... > > > > U.S. Justice Department, Leading Technology Association Launch Web Site > To Teach Children Responsible Computer Use > > Offers Parents, Educators Back-To-School Tools To > Teach Kids About Online Ethics > > ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- As America's children go back to >school, The Cybercitizen Partnership, a joint effort by the U.S. Department of >Justice and the Information Technology Association of America Foundation >(ITAA), the nation's leading technology association, today launched a new Web >site for parents and educators designed to teach kids the right ways to use >the Internet. > The new Web site -- http://www.cybercitizenship.org -- represents a major >national effort to provide teachers, parents and their children with a new >learning tool -- responsible computer use. The Web site is initially focused >on providing support for parents, and will expand to assist teachers and >appeal to kids. > "Young people are growing up in a society where the Internet is > central to >everything from commerce to recreation," said U.S. Attorney General Janet >Reno. "Unfortunately, criminal activity exists online just as it does on the >streets. As children learn basic rules about right and wrong in the off-line >world, they must also learn about acceptable behavior on the Internet." > "This is a first-of-its kind government/private sector initiative to help >kids realize that the rules of the road in the off-line world also apply in >the online world," said ITAA President Harris N. Miller. "As the Internet >becomes more important to our daily lives, this initiative will help kids make >informed decisions about online behavior." > The Cybercitizen Partnership was formed last year to focus national >attention on cyber social behavior and the importance of teaching young >computer users to recognize that, in addition to protecting themselves from >the more unsavory and potentially dangerous behavior found in parts of the >Internet, they must understand that, when online, they are responsible for >their own actions and that these actions have consequences both for themselves >and others. The same standards of ethics expected in the off-line world must >be applied to the online world. The Web site will provide parents with >several tools including: > > * Teachable Moments: Tips to help parents use real-life events, news >stories and examples to help them talk to their kids about the >responsibilities they must accept when using the Internet; > > * Links: Relevant sites to connect parents to other programs and >organizations offering helpful information; > > * Logo: A kid-friendly character, created specifically for The >Cybercitizen Partnership, that reminds young computer users to "Surf Like A >Hero, Not A Zero" > > * Current Events: Useful news coverage on cyber ethics and cyber crimes >and a calendar of events for educational programs; > > * White Paper: A situation analysis and call-to-action addressing the >need to educate children about responsible cyber social behavior; > > * Ask The Experts: A list of experts on cyber ethics, who will be >available to respond to email inquiries from visitors to the site. > > "Now that students have rapidly increasing access to the Internet at >school and at home, the key is to excite them while teaching them the right >way to use the new medium," said Van B. Honeycutt, president and CEO of >Computer Sciences Corporation and chairman of The Cybercitizen Partnership. >"Our children represent the future technology workforce, which is why it's so >important for industry to play a major role in helping kids learn responsible >cyber behavior." > The Web site will evolve and eventually include: a directory of >educational initiatives across the country dedicated to integrating messages >about responsible cyber social behavior; new links to valuable Web sites; and >interactive tools for parents and teachers on cyber ethics. > Announced in March of 1999 by the U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, The >Cybercitizen Partnership serves as an umbrella organization to identify cyber >social behavior initiatives and to help create a movement to address legal and >ethical issues online. Current supporters of the program include: Computer >Sciences Corporation (www.csc.com ); Oracle (www.oracle.com ); >www.onehealthbank.com ; MERANT (www.merant.com ); Mirus Information Systems >(www.mirusinfo.com ); Stanford Consulting Group, Cyveillance, Inc., iDefense >(www.idefense.com ), the Recording Industry Association of America >(www.RIAA.com ) and BITS, the Technology Group for the Financial Services >sector (www.bankersround.org ). > > About ITAA > The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) provides global >public policy, business networking, and national leadership to promote the >continued rapid growth of the IT industry. ITAA consists of 400 direct and >26,000 affiliate corporate members throughout the U.S., and a global network >of 41 countries' IT associations. The Association plays the leading role in >issues of IT industry concern including information security, taxes and >finance policy, digital intellectual property protection, telecommunications >competition, workforce and education, immigration, online privacy and consumer >protection, government IT procurement, human resources and e-commerce policy. >ITAA members range from the smallest IT start-ups to industry leaders in the >Internet, software, IT services, ASP, digital content, systems integration, >telecommunications, and enterprise solution fields. For more information >visit www.itaa.org . > >SOURCE Information Technology Association of America > -0- 09/05/2000 > /CONTACT: Bob Cohen of Information Technology Association of America, >703-284-5301, [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Elissa Lumley of Fleishman-Hillard, >202-828-8845, [EMAIL PROTECTED], for Information Technology Association of >America; or Chris Watney of U.S. Justice Department, 202-514-2007, >[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ > /Web sites: http://www.cybercitizenship.org > http://www.itaa.org/