P2P PATROL Launches Education Program to Protect Children; DCIA Members Support Law Enforcement Efforts

Business Wire, Dec 13, 2004

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA) is launching the third program of its initiative to help protect children online with the introduction of the P2P PATROL (Peer-to-Peer Parents And Teens React Online) consumer Web site at http://www.p2ppatrol.com. Through this Web site, peer-to-peer software program distributors and related companies participating in the P2P PATROL initiative will provide information to P2P users to help stop distribution of child pornography on the Internet. The program continues DCIA-led work with law enforcement to support investigations of suspected abuses of P2P software for dissemination of criminally obscene content, and to deter such activities. The DCIA is a trade association dedicated to the advancement of file sharing to benefit consumers, as well as technology and entertainment companies.

P2PPATROL.com will serve as a resource center to answer basic questions for consumers, including details about the P2P PATROL initiative, how individuals can participate, and how to minimize the risk of exposure to criminally obscene content. Its specific focus is on helping users who inadvertently encounter child pornography online to be able to recognize, remove and report it.

"The new P2P PATROL Web site will provide how-to help for parents to better protect their children online," said DCIA CEO Marty Lafferty. "The DCIA originally launched the P2P PATROL initiative to integrate efforts of the private sector with consumers and law enforcement to combat child pornography.

"A 'Future of Netcrime Now' report released Dec. 8 by the Press Association Limited cited this issue as the greatest threat facing the Internet today, ranking seven different child pornography concerns in the 10 most serious 'netcrime' threats, and it is more important than ever that we do all we can to fight it."

The P2P PATROL site empowers general users, who inadvertently encounter undesirable material online, with tools to recognize, report, and remove (i.e., hard drive wipe) criminally obscene content. P2P PATROL utilizes advanced technologies to help users purge such files and prevent redistribution. P2Ppatrol.com provides easy-to-follow instructions for determining whether such material is illegal or merely objectionable; for permanently deleting it; and for reporting the content to law enforcement authorities.

The DCIA and its members have unanimously praised the enforcement actions of the Cyber Division of the FBI and the coordinated law enforcement efforts of the Department of Justice and Homeland Security, stating, "No amount of child pornography is acceptable, and we are committed to doing all we can to eliminate this illicit content from peer-to-peer file-sharing environments."

Intolerance of the global scourge of child pornography is morally commendable for voluntarily participating P2P PATROL companies, and tools like those this initiative provides are what they need to support that position practically.

The DCIA is working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) on the P2P PATROL initiative.

The DCIA is also working with state police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force units to enhance the effectiveness of regional enforcement in combating child pornography by tapping P2P technology to prosecute suspected traffickers.

Finally, the DCIA is working with the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (asacp.org) on technical coordination and backend fulfillment for P2PPATROL.com.

P2P PATROL will host its next quarterly working session for qualified private sector and law enforcement representatives in Dallas on Feb. 1, 2005. For more information and to learn how to contribute to P2P PATROL, please contact sari@dcia.info or call 888-864-DCIA.

About the Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA)

The Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA) is a not-for-profit trade organization supported by membership dues contributed by participating companies. DCIA's mission is to advance the adoption of distributed computing technologies and the commercial development of business models based on them. It provides a forum for senior executive discussion, a medium for lobbying governmental authorities, and a vehicle for educating the public at large. DCIA's members include Alston & Bird, Altnet, BlueMaze Entertainment, Claria Corp., Clickshare Service, Digital Containers, Digital Static, Good Witch Records, Go-Kart Records, Grokster, Indie911, INTENT MediaWorks, Javien, Jeftel, Jun Group, MasurLaw, MusicDish Network, One Love Channel, P2P Cash, Predixis, Project V-G, Rap Station, RazorPop, Relatable, Seamless P2P, Shared Media Licensing, Sharman Networks, SMARTGuard Software, Sovereign Artists, SVC Financial and TryMedia Systems. For more information, please call 888-864-DCIA or visit www.dcia.info.