FCC to Develop 'Super V Chip' To Screen All Content 408
An anonymous reader writes "The Senate Commerce Committee has stepped in and approved a legislation asking the Federal Communications Commission to 'oversee the development of a super V-chip that could screen content on everything from cell phones to the Internet.' Since the content viewed by children is no longer restricted to TV or radio Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., the sponsor of the Child Safe Viewing Act, feels that the new law is necessary. 'The bill requires the FCC to review, within one year of enactment, technology that can help parents manage the vast volume of video and other content on television or the Internet. Under the 1996 Telecommunications Act, TV makers are required to embed the V-chip within televisions to allow parents to block content according to a rating system.'"
Why not... (Score:5, Insightful)
Parents today obviously have ZERO interest in spending time with their children and monitoring their activities and habits.
This is ridiculous.
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Re:Why not... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Why not... (Score:4, Insightful)
Hate to be a jerk but... (Score:3, Insightful)
I dunno if this is Eugenics but... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I dunno if this is Eugenics but... (Score:4, Insightful)
Don't be so quick to write off the children of those "under-performers". Most of them is what keeps this country functioning.
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Most of the children from under performing people I knew grew up to be losers just like their parents. Rags-to-riches stories just don't happen in my experience. I'm sure you can point to a few popular figures that made it despite loser parents, but those are the exceptions not the rule.
Re:I dunno if this is Eugenics but... (Score:4, Insightful)
So what you'll have is a class of people that know the value of a dollar and know how to save. Then you'll have everyone else that's in debt up to their ears, teetering on bankruptcy. The first class of people will be making money off the second since the second class is to stupid to learn anything.
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New York City
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I won't touch the socialism thing with a ten foot pole sporting a condom., but I will say that there is no shortage of capitalism in NYC. The people here get raped with taxes, though, and they still haven't stormed Albany with pitchforks - so I have to assume that they are just ignorant that the rest of the country gets a lot more for their money.
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NYC is not a pit - it is one of the best cities that I have ever lived in or visited. I'm only here temporarily, but I am really enjoying my stay. Incidentally, it is a great place to have a baby - no need for a car, everything you need is 2 blocks away... just don't ask what it all costs... I couldn't afford any of it if it weren't all subsidized by my wife's employer.
In any event, if all 22 million people in the NYC metro area moved somewher
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Re:Why not... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Why not... (Score:4, Informative)
The latest Wired magazine has a breakdown of average US household expenses, (I tried to find it online but couldn't). Anyway, from the picture table it was pretty clear that more than two-thirds (~66%) of household expenses go to Telco's/Cable/Tv companies. It was a good prompt for me to revise what services I have vs what I actually need. We now have a pre-pay phone, dropped our DirecTv in favor of free-to-air (timeshifted fav shows with Mythtv) and 2-at-a-time-netflix, and reviewed our internet useage and plan (which didn't change). I'm aiming to drop the standard land-line and go for a VOIP service (Skype calling in) with Cellphone for 911 calls. Overall I think we're saving about $70/month and once the land-line is gone it will be $120/month for very little sacrifice. Ultimately freeing up money to do other things.
Ultimately there are less things for me to 'censor' cos we simply have less services. I agree that it should be the responsibility for the parents to manage what their children watch / are exposed to, and most providers (e.g directv) offer some form of parental control. If a service does not offer parental control (i.e a standard internet connection), then the parent needs to have a good long look at the service and whether it is appropriate for the child to have access to. if your kid 'has to have' a cellphone, there are plenty without data plans and no access to the internet, and for home based things there are third party solutions like net-nanny, or an Astaro gateway for the household.
Re:Why not... (Score:5, Insightful)
Being that I am finally of the age where my friends and co-workers have young children and I myself may soon have a child, I am noticing more and more the teaching and parenting skills that people have.
Now, I am continuously out and about and watch the result of poor parenting when the little bastard bites your leg [bash.org] but recently I have been noticing a backlash against this. Parents are starting to spank their kids again (in public no less, the horror!), sternly talking to them instead of baby talk and asking what their true feelings are, and generally raising children that aren't going to run out in the middle of the street and then stare at you like it was your fault that you almost hit them.
What this is, aside from the vocal minority of those parents that are still parentally retarded, is the politicians doing everything they can to create more censorship and centralized control under the guise of saving the children. If anything, these people aren't bad parents because they can't control their brats, it's that they can't control their government.
Not controlling the government is far more scary than some little shithead not getting to watch Denis Leary call someone a fucking cocksucker and talk about his erection likelihood on Rescue Me.
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I have four with a 12 year age span. I spend a lot of time with all of them. I can't monitor everything they do, all of the time, and I don't want to.
Just because they know what they are supposed to do doesn't mean they actually will do it.
So yes, I use the TV parental controls to keep them from surfing where they should not be. I use McAcfee and SpectorPro on my computer to monitor and set internet access levels and time limits.
The technology gives pa
Re:Why not... (Score:5, Insightful)
Technology alone cannot solve problems. Realize 2 things: First of all, your kids have way more time to figure out ways around your access control than you have to review whether your access controls work. And second, you have no control over the TVs of their friends. Even if your kids can't figure out how to circumvent the V-Chip, they simply go to their friends and watch that video there.
I want to opt out. (Score:4, Insightful)
I can't? Oh joy. Perhaps the parents should pay MORE for a TV with MORE FEATURES instead of the government forcing everyone to pay for it.
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Years later I discovered that my parents' philosophy was that if a kid is clever enough to outsmart the protection mechanism, they're probably old enough to have access to the content.
That's hilarious. My parents had the same philosophy too, but they weren't too keen on the video games. My mother once tried to limit my play time by taking the power cord from the 8-bit Nintendo with her to work. Her theory was "You need to do more than play video games if you want to succeed in society." I was 9 at the time.
She came home one day to me playing Punch Out with no problems. "How did you get that to work? I have the power cord in my purse!"
"The answering machine runs on the same voltage." I r
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Seriously, this isn't any more of a government intrusion than the mandated nutrition information on the side of cereal boxes.
Come back and cry when the government makes the actual restrictions mandatory.
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And if a parent chose to use this it does not imply that they have ZERO interest in spending time with their children and monitoring their activities. Some day when you grow up and become a parent yourself you will realize that although kids are great you can't watch what they are doing every single freaking se
Off button? (Score:2)
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The great fire wall (Score:2)
So does this mean... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:So does this mean... (Score:5, Funny)
You can already block all content. (Score:5, Insightful)
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As my wife and I discovered four years ago, No TV == Much Better Life in general. More time to be with each other, more exercise for ourselves, etc.
However, it's also a much lonelier life here in America. It makes it hard to make friends when people talk about pop culture and you return a blank stare. (People with TV often have no idea how much of their conversation begins to revolve around what they see on, even to the point of talking about the advertisements!?)
Censoring for Children is like... (Score:5, Insightful)
It is our obligation, as adults, not to prevent the reality from reaching the senses of minors, but to provide adequate explanations and guidance. Those technical censoring measures are the result of the intention to avoid adult responsibilities, to "sweep the problem under the rug", so to say.
Re:Censoring for Children is like... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Censoring for Children is like... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Censoring for Children is like... (Score:4, Insightful)
Sorry, but I disagree. It is our responsibility as adults to introduce children to reality as they are able to understand the explanations and guidance. A five-year-old is not likely to understand any possible explanation for a violent rape scene that he/she saw on TV. I'm really astounded that people think of the V-chip as censorship. Could somebody explain exactly how a screening tool that can be turned on or off by the owner is censorship? The V-chip is nothing more than a tool. It can be used for good and for bad. Good parents will carefully monitor what their children are watching (either to keep them away from inappropriate content or to explain questionable content). Bad parents will rely solely on the V-chip (a huge mistake) to allow them to shirk their responsibility. I have two children. I use the parental lock-down features on my cable box, but I also monitor what they are watching. The parental lock-down is nice because it cuts down on inappropriate content that may show up while I'm running through channels in the presence of my children. It also makes sure my eight-year-old isn't going to change channels to something that's not suitable for him (or his little sister) while I'm in the bathroom. But I'm also fully aware that it is not a substitute for responsible parenting. Some channels don't include rating informations for all shows (The Science Fiction channel and HDNet are two notable offenders), and the most questionable content comes from the commercials rather than the programming itself. Therefore, I make sure I'm there to explain behavior that is and is not appropriate. I like the V-chip as a tool, and nothing more. These laws aren't about mandating that people _use_ the V-chip. They are about making sure that it's available for those who _want_ to use it.
Re:Censoring for Children is like... (Score:4, Insightful)
True, but it is mandating (I think) that every adult has to pay for it, presumably in everything from computers to phones, which is still an issue. What's wrong with overseeing the development to make it available as an option to those who want it?
There's also the question of how they intend to implement a rating system for the Internet.
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For television content, I suspect the cost is negligible. However, I would have no problem if it were just an available option that we have to pay a little extra for if we want it.
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Let me fix this for you.
Sorry, but I disagree. It is your responsibility as [a parent] to introduce children to reality as they are able to understand the explanations and guidance.
Its not your god given right to watch or even own a TV. It was YOUR choice to have a child, YOU pay the expense of raising it. I personally don't give a damn if there's another
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This is not censorship. No outside agency is requiring studios and telephone providers to use V-chips on their end to prevent you from seeing objectionable things. This is on your end to allow blocking of material based on standards you determine (to some extent.) On one hand, parents should take a specific interest in what their kids are watching. On the other hand, kids work every single gray area they can find. Including a V-chip in the TV set certainly would allow parents to block things while they
In the end it won't matter (Score:2)
When they change that ruling, then we need to worry.
All content? (Score:5, Insightful)
How many parents actually use the V-chip? (Score:5, Interesting)
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V-chip doesn't *SCREEN* content (Score:3, Informative)
-b.
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How long before we get Demolition Man style naughty language fines?
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So the bill requires a working AI? Jesus, even Google SafeSearch doesn't catch all the actual porn, and Google is pretty good. Are Congressthings really that clueless?
-b.
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Parental Responsibility? (Score:4, Informative)
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This wont work without... (Score:2, Insightful)
Wherever there's a person going through puberty, there you will most likely find prurient material.
Protect us from ourselves! (Score:5, Insightful)
Yeah, good luck with that, folks.
They're still missing one form... (Score:5, Interesting)
Obligatory User Friendly Strip [userfriendly.org]
Parents, Supervise Your Own Children (Score:5, Insightful)
It's bad enough that some parents think that television is a babysitter. It's even worse that some feel the Internet is a more interactive babysitter. Now, it seems, your cell phone and ipod are capable of acting as babysitters.
Sadly, judging from my experience in the restaurant, technology might actually be a better babysitter than some parents...
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Re:Parents, Supervise Your Own Children (Score:4, Insightful)
It's best to ignore such a child. You see, when you grow up, whining and screaming does not get you balloons. You want to learn that lesson early.
Either that or give the child some strong negative reinforcement. But I can see a mother being uncomfortable with that in a crowded restaurant.
Overkill (Score:5, Insightful)
This technology is all overkill anyway, and here's why:
To view content, you have to physically have access to a device that can display the content. As a parent, you should be able to remove that physical access for all 'locally controlled' devices; you can't prevent them from watching a friend's phone or whatever regardless of V-chips or whatever.
There is this thing called an 'off switch' and, failing that, circuit breakers.
You don't want them to have a phone, don't give them money to buy one. If they're old enough to get a job to afford their own, then they should already have the capacity to handle whatever content they can obtain anyway.
To me, these laws just take away responsibility and, with it, freedom from the general populace.
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There is this thing called an 'off switch' and, failing that, circuit breakers.
Yeah, if you don't shut off the power to every room with a TV, you're an irresponsible parent. Good call.
The same Mark Pryor... (Score:5, Informative)
corrected /. link (Score:2)
At some point, it becomes really, really obvious.. (Score:4, Insightful)
More concerning is the new anti-TV violence rules. I really don't want to go back to the days of the A-Team where you could have machine guns as long as they never hit anyone.
Re:At some point, it becomes really, really obviou (Score:2)
I propose.. (Score:2, Funny)
Society of bad parenting (Score:4, Insightful)
oh no, the children! (Score:2)
every part of me screams that the real agenda is using a moralistic excuse to add another layer that can make somebody more money.
Lost Cause (Score:3, Informative)
Even if this becomes law, I can't imagine that it would survive its first challenge in a federal court.
Authoratah! (Score:2)
Good luck with that (Score:2)
I Want One (Score:3, Interesting)
The alternative is that the government and providers screen content at the server, without consumer choice.
The only problem is that today's FCC, coming at the tail end of the Republican covert government [dailykos.com], will probably install spyware on their "Super" V-Chip. So instead of all your TV signals of all they offer coming down your wire or over the air, for you to privately select from, their "Super" V-Chip will send a log to the NSA. Crossreferenced to all your personal data [wikipedia.org], including email, phone, surveillance video, and all the electronic/digital transactions that profile your life.
Eventually the NSA will convince us to implant an RFID V-Chip "so we can easily tune our TVs wherever we go".
But if we get a private V-Chip now, before they do it, then we can satisfy the demand for convenience before that convenience is exploited to mask total privacy invasion. If the V-Chip specs and HW/firmware/SW are open, then we can get both safety and convenience. That's known as "freedom": the (traditional) American Way.
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If the V-Chip specs and HW/firmware/SW are open
This is coming from an administration that is more secretive than Nixon's. What are the odds that anything will be open?
<sarcasm> Don't you realize that if we have any kind of open standard, kids will be able to view porn, and terrorists will be able to spread propaganda? Why do you hate freedom?</sarcasm>
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That's why w
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But if we get a private V-Chip now, before they do it, then we can satisfy the demand for convenience before that convenience is exploited to mask total privacy invasion. If the V-Chip specs and HW/firmware/SW are open, then we can get both safety and convenience. That's known as "freedom": the (traditional) American Way.
I agree completely. Something like this could be used to help filter all sorts of content and could be quite useful as an opt-in technology. There's a market for it and a genuine need. Now before you start in on the 'sucky parenting' crap, ask your self, 'do I churn my own butter'? Because not having to worry about content being passed to my sons while I'm busy posting on slashdot, at work, posting to slashdot while at work, etc, would be a 'Good Thing'. Very convenient and useful.
To be practical abou
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We might even agree, Anonymous ambiguous Coward, in finer detail. But you've got to say something meaningful, not just sarcastically obnoxious.
Oblig.: (Score:5, Insightful)
- Bender
Why not just stick a chip into our heads (Score:2, Funny)
Damn Republicans (Score:2)
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fixed that for you.
[/jaded]
Awesome (Score:2)
Our savior.. the Super-V chip! (Score:2, Insightful)
Today it seems like kids are very limited in terms of what would be 'acceptable'. Now maybe I'm just crazy or too tired to think straight, but WHY are we watching/listening to this 'crap' on TV? If it's so bad for our kids, is it really that good for us adults? Sure, there's definite limits. Can't exactly show the evening news on Iraq on Nick
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My kids are in their teens now, and I never really cared what they watched on TV. Trying to protect them is going to cause problems later when they are
Just a thought (Score:2)
Just a thought.
Quick show of hands.... (Score:2)
OK, there were about five people that use them.
Why waste resources on a system that virtually no one uses. Actually, most people don't even know that it is there to start with.
Parents need to take responsibility and teach their kids right from wrong, what is real and not real. An other people need to let all the other parents make their own mistakes, they can not fix their own kids by forcing others to do as they sh
So what? (Score:2)
I know that it's not a fix-all but if parents are concerned about what their children are watching, this is just one more tool they can use (along with actually monitoring the children, of course).
E
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Goodbye hard-earned Karma... (Score:2)
Fuck That
And any manner of other "inappropriate" words for that matter. The idea of allowing the government to filter for us what is appropriate is absolutely absurd and anyone who thinks that the law-making body is the one best suited toward deciding the standards of decency for a socity needs some serious education in sociology.
When you hand the job of deciding what's appropriate over to an organization whose job is to define laws, so
How about an I chip? (Score:3, Insightful)
You know, so I could screen out shows that would insult my intelligence?
Just think of the possibilities:
Yeah, that's it! A chip for everyone! The world will finally be safe from itself ;-)
Come to think of it, I could just turn off the tv or change the channel... Hmmm...
Thank you FCC and nanny state... (Score:2)
Dems and Rethuglicans - blech! (Score:2)
There's a
Won't work (Score:2)
The V-Chip has two components: the transmitter end, which sends the program rating embedded inside the television signal; and the receiver end, where the V-Chip decodes the rating, and enables/disables viewing of that signal.
For an internet V-Chip rating system to work, every web site would need to embed a rating tag on every page... which they would have zero interest in doing. Even if Congress mandates it in the USA, foreign web site
Can I have a chip that censors away all... (Score:2)
hmm, yeah, that would actually be enough, I can stand all the rest of the stuff, opinions, smut, games, violence, etc. Just get rid of all those religious people and their shows and the crap that comes out of their mouths. THAT would be using technology to better mankind!
Remember one thing (Score:2, Insightful)
THEY LIED.
Censors always lie.
If you think it'll be any different this time -- if you think that if you give them what they want, they'll go away happy -- then you're either hopelessly naive or just plain nuts.
My TV has a v-chip? (Score:2)
Under the 1996 Telecommunications Act, TV makers are required to embed the V-chip within televisions to allow parents to block content according to a rating system.'"
Wow, my oldest TV I bought in 2003. So both of my TVs have V-chips? This is news to me, and I tend to pride myself on being tech savoy. I wonder how many people know their TVs actually have this, or for that matter, how many people actually use it.
DVD players usually have parental control, but I have never seen anyone use it, except for the default settings on the PS2. Most parents I know just keep the bad DVDs put up and away from the kids. If the kids are old enough to start snooping around and find it a
Wow (Score:2)
There they go again... (Score:2)
A Good Idea, if ... (Score:3, Interesting)