https://safetonet.com/
http://www.irishnews.com/magazine/t...e-it-is-filmed-or-streamed-developed-2044786/
There was an interesting segment on Ian King's show this morning on Sky News, about a company called "SafeToNet".
Seems they're a UK based tech company specialising in online security software for children, specifically - intercepting and blocking / censoring anything which comes or goes from a child's phone, which it deems might be harmful.
It can detect messages containing abuse or things with connotations of anything harmful, bullying, harassment, violence, grooming etc.
Furthermore, it seems that it has the capability to analyse incoming or outgoing images (presumably from the camera) or being played on the phone, which can detect and 'grey out' things such as nudity in real time.
My first reaction was 'oh that's pretty cool' 'yeah, that makes sense' especially in a world where we've had people like Jimmy Saville, Ian Huntley, Myra Hindley and so on.
Then I started to have nagging doubts.
I started thinking about how important it is, to have coping skills and personal fortitude, because at some point in life - we're all faced with difficult and unpleasant situations. Whether it be a bully or a child abuser, robber or some sort of violent confrontation, these types of things happen to us all.
In my own personal experience of 38 years - I've been exposed to a lot of bad things, and that chronic, cumulative exposure over the years, has given me a level of experience, maturity and personal fortitude which allows me to deal with difficult and stressful situations effectively.
I ask myself; Suppose I grew up, in a world where all the nasty (in some cases sexy) things were greyed out for me, by a piece of software - before I even saw or heard them, what would I be like now? What would my ability to deal with difficult, or even sexy situations be like?
In the final analysis, I feel as though a lot of the 'bad stuff' has actually helped me, in the sense that those negative and difficult experiences have made me a better more successful person than I would have been, If i'd not experienced them.
Of course, I'm not advocating that children should be sending or receiving porn on their phones - I'm expressing concern about the slippery slope we go down, with this type of censorship technology, and where it leads.
It reminds me of the black mirror episode "Arkangel" (I'm sure you've all seen it) of the girl who has similar tech installed in her brain, than blocks out everything scary or nasty in real time, it doesn't end well for her.
Obviously the tech portrayed by Charlie Brooker is far more advanced sci-fi tech than the company in the link, but despite the technical differences - we can surely see how they both relate.
What say ye, GD?
Is this type of software good or bad?
http://www.irishnews.com/magazine/t...e-it-is-filmed-or-streamed-developed-2044786/
There was an interesting segment on Ian King's show this morning on Sky News, about a company called "SafeToNet".
Seems they're a UK based tech company specialising in online security software for children, specifically - intercepting and blocking / censoring anything which comes or goes from a child's phone, which it deems might be harmful.
It can detect messages containing abuse or things with connotations of anything harmful, bullying, harassment, violence, grooming etc.
Furthermore, it seems that it has the capability to analyse incoming or outgoing images (presumably from the camera) or being played on the phone, which can detect and 'grey out' things such as nudity in real time.
My first reaction was 'oh that's pretty cool' 'yeah, that makes sense' especially in a world where we've had people like Jimmy Saville, Ian Huntley, Myra Hindley and so on.
Then I started to have nagging doubts.
I started thinking about how important it is, to have coping skills and personal fortitude, because at some point in life - we're all faced with difficult and unpleasant situations. Whether it be a bully or a child abuser, robber or some sort of violent confrontation, these types of things happen to us all.
In my own personal experience of 38 years - I've been exposed to a lot of bad things, and that chronic, cumulative exposure over the years, has given me a level of experience, maturity and personal fortitude which allows me to deal with difficult and stressful situations effectively.
I ask myself; Suppose I grew up, in a world where all the nasty (in some cases sexy) things were greyed out for me, by a piece of software - before I even saw or heard them, what would I be like now? What would my ability to deal with difficult, or even sexy situations be like?
In the final analysis, I feel as though a lot of the 'bad stuff' has actually helped me, in the sense that those negative and difficult experiences have made me a better more successful person than I would have been, If i'd not experienced them.
Of course, I'm not advocating that children should be sending or receiving porn on their phones - I'm expressing concern about the slippery slope we go down, with this type of censorship technology, and where it leads.
It reminds me of the black mirror episode "Arkangel" (I'm sure you've all seen it) of the girl who has similar tech installed in her brain, than blocks out everything scary or nasty in real time, it doesn't end well for her.
Obviously the tech portrayed by Charlie Brooker is far more advanced sci-fi tech than the company in the link, but despite the technical differences - we can surely see how they both relate.
What say ye, GD?
Is this type of software good or bad?
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