CHAPTER 91A—PROMOTING A SAFE INTERNET FOR CHILDREN

        

§6551. Internet safety

For the purposes of this chapter, the issue of Internet safety includes issues regarding the use of the Internet in a manner that promotes safe online activity for children, protects children from cybercrimes, including crimes by online predators, and helps parents shield their children from material that is inappropriate for minors.

(Pub. L. 110–385, title II, §211, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4102.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this title", meaning title II of Pub. L. 110–385, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4102, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title II to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 110–385, title II, §201(a), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4102, provided that: "This title [enacting this chapter and amending sections 254 and 503 of Title 47, Telecommunications] may be cited as the 'Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act'."

§6552. Public awareness campaign

The Federal Trade Commission shall carry out a nationwide program to increase public awareness and provide education regarding strategies to promote the safe use of the Internet by children. The program shall utilize existing resources and efforts of the Federal Government, State and local governments, nonprofit organizations, private technology and financial companies, Internet service providers, World Wide Web-based resources, and other appropriate entities, that includes—

(1) identifying, promoting, and encouraging best practices for Internet safety;

(2) establishing and carrying out a national outreach and education campaign regarding Internet safety utilizing various media and Internet-based resources;

(3) facilitating access to, and the exchange of, information regarding Internet safety to promote up-to-date knowledge regarding current issues; and

(4) facilitating access to Internet safety education and public awareness efforts the Commission considers appropriate by States, units of local government, schools, police departments, nonprofit organizations, and other appropriate entities.

(Pub. L. 110–385, title II, §212, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4103.)

§6553. Annual reports

The Commission shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives not later than March 31 of each year that describes the activities carried out under section 6552 ¹ of this title by the Commission during the preceding calendar year.

(Pub. L. 110–385, title II, §213, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4103.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 6552 of this title, referred to in text, was in the original "section 103" and was translated as reading "section 212", meaning section 212 of Pub. L. 110–385, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See sections 102 and 103 of S. 1965 (110th Cong., 2d Sess.) as passed by the Senate on May 22, 2008.

¹ See References in Text note below.

§6554. Online Safety and Technology working group

(a) Establishment

Within 90 days after October 10, 2008, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information shall establish an Online Safety and Technology working group comprised of representatives of relevant sectors of the business community, public interest groups, and other appropriate groups and Federal agencies to review and evaluate—

(1) the status of industry efforts to promote online safety through educational efforts, parental control technology, blocking and filtering software, age-appropriate labels for content or other technologies or initiatives designed to promote a safe online environment for children;

(2) the status of industry efforts to promote online safety among providers of electronic communications services and remote computing services by reporting apparent child pornography under section 13032 ¹ of title 42, including any obstacles to such reporting;

(3) the practices of electronic communications service providers and remote computing service providers related to record retention in connection with crimes against children; and

(4) the development of technologies to help parents shield their children from inappropriate material on the Internet.

(b) Report

Within 1 year after the working group is first convened, it shall submit a report to the Assistant Secretary, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives that—

(1) describes in detail its findings, including any information related to the effectiveness of such strategies and technologies and any information about the prevalence within industry of educational campaigns, parental control technologies, blocking and filtering software, labeling, or other technologies to assist parents; and

(2) includes recommendations as to what types of incentives could be used or developed to increase the effectiveness and implementation of such strategies and technologies.

(c) Chapter 10 of title 5 not to apply to working group

Chapter 10 of title 5 shall not apply to the working group.

(Pub. L. 110–385, title II, §214, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4103; Pub. L. 117–286, §4(a)(76), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4314.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 13032 of title 42, referred to in the original in subsec. (a)(2), probably should have been a reference to section 227 of Pub. L. 101–647, which was classified to section 13032 of title 42, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 110–401, title V, §501(b)(1), Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4251.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted "Chapter 10 of title 5" for "FACA" in heading and "Chapter 10 of title 5" for "The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)" in text.

¹ See References in Text note below.

§6555. Definitions

In this chapter:

(1) Commission

The term "Commission" means the Federal Trade Commission.

(2) Internet

The term "Internet" means collectively the myriad of computer and telecommunications facilities, including equipment and operating software, which comprise the interconnected world-wide network of networks that employ the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, or any predecessor successor ¹ protocols to such protocol, to communicate information of all kinds by wire or radio.

(Pub. L. 110–385, title II, §216, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4104.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this title", meaning title II of Pub. L. 110–385, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4102, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title II to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6551 of this title and Tables.

¹ So in original. Probably should be preceded by "or".