"Consumer Reports" Finds Filters Faulty

Staff -- Library Journal, 2/19/2001

A study of six filtering products (plus (America Online's parental controls) by Consumer Reports found that most failed to block one in five "objectionable" sites -- and that the most effective blocking, from AOL's Young Teen (or Kids Only) likely will block web sites addressing political and social issues. The magazine tested the filters against a broader set of sites containing graphic sexuality and violence or promotion of drugs, tobacco, crime, or bigotry. Such settings may reflect blocking policies in homes or at some schools but are generally broader than the blocking categories used by most libraries. The report also noted that the Content Advisor feature of the Microsoft Internet Explorer -- which can be set to accept or reject rated sites -- falters because most sites don't rate themselves, and, of those that do, some are inaccurate.