Internet content and access providers began a three day meeting in Washington DC yesterday in an attempt to thrash out a set of voluntary standards governing access too adult-oriented material on the internet. The Internet Online Summit: Focus on Children was called in part to try and head off attempts by the government to impose restrictions if vendors did not do their utmost to prevent obscene content getting through to minors. Companies such as America Online Inc, Microsoft Corp, Walt Disney Co and Time Warner Inc were represented, along with bodies such as the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, but some right-wing organizations were reportedly annoyed at the nature of the gathering, deriding it as an internet love-in, according to Reuters, despite participating in planning the event. Senator Bill Coats of Indiana, the man behind the ill- fated Communications Decency Act, which was struck down by the Supreme Court in June, introduced a bill into Congress last month that would require all service providers carrying content judged harmful to minors to block access or face criminal charges. However, Coats said yesterday that he favored a three-pronged approach from government, industry and parents.
