[Islam-Online- Society]

The 20th century is coming to an end with a new revolution that surprised Arabs and Muslims, just as earlier revolutions and innovations have. The Information Technology revolution, with its most significant aspect - the Internet - puzzled Arabs and Muslims. They were not prepared to deal with the ramifications of the new era. They were faced with a vast, open cyberspace and were unable to control it, despite their desire to decrease its destructive impact on values.

The question remains how we can benefit from the positive sides of information technology while protecting our children from the dangers of the Internet. Children and adolescents seem to be the segments of society most vulnerable to the harm and threat posed by the Internet. Children in particular are in danger of exposure to inappropriate material on a global scope. The question that has been raised continuously is whether the Internet can be controlled and whether restrictions can be imposed on the freedom of disseminating information over the Internet.

Some countries solved the problem in a simplistic way by refusing the introduction of Internet service to their people. Saudi Arabia and Libya are examples of this policy. However, Saudi Arabia found itself unable to prevent the use of the Internet, and found out that preventing the use of the Internet was against the public interest. It allowed the introduction of the Internet beginning in 1998. Although late, the step was welcomed. In other Arab countries, there is a growing demand for Internet service - 150 to 250 percent increase per year. Currently, there are more than 3 million subscribers in the Arab world.

In terms of control over material, most Arab countries except Egypt, Lebanon, and the Arab countries of North Africa introduced restrictions on users of certain websites. Governments view certain sites as inappropriate, such as those discussing human rights and opposition to the government. In controlling the information exchanged over the Internet, these countries use what is called a "firewall"; i.e, a proxy server device that channels all information coming to the country through filters and prevents "unwanted" information from reaching its destination. Usually, these governments have to update their lists of unwanted sites frequently.

In using such systems, governments believe that they are immune from the impact of the Internet, and they think they are protecting the values of their societies. However, in reality all systems of control can easily be penetrated. There are devices that can bypass the proxies and enable users to receive any kind of information they wish to see. It seems impossible to control this giant by proxies these days due to the following facts:
Thousands of websites emerge every day, making it impossible to channel them all through the filtering system before they are viewed by users.

There are new devices in the market designed to bypass the proxies and disable them. These devices and software make it impossible to control e-mail or chat systems. Controlling things such as pornography is nearly impossible, given the fact that it's being disseminated through giant web providers that are readily accessible.
Currently, the information coming to any country from satellites is channeled through a Local Service Provider and then a filter. However, studies point toward the possibility of downloading information via satellite by the year 2003, if not earlier, without going through local providers.
Internet hackers bypass proxies' knowledge base. Hackers also post information to young users about the methods of bypassing proxies and control.
Even assuming that governments would be able to control the information flooding into the country, there will always be a segment of the population able to make international calls to servers outside the country, receive any information, then send it out on local levels.
Another important factor is that of limiting freedom. Western countries look at the Internet as a bastion of freedom. Theoretically, one day in the future, they may impose sanctions on countries limiting freedoms of the Internet or preventing their peoples from receiving Internet services.

The issue of controlling the Internet is not something that pertains only to Arab countries, but to all countries. Britain and the United States failed to block the publication of the real names of British intelligence agents, which was posted by an unknown person. This was despite the advanced technology in the United States and Britain. Control of the information superhighway is simply not possible. Because the Internet has no boundaries, the risks run far beyond simply what people are free to view in their own homes.

So it's obvious that controlling cyberspace is impossible. However, nations have struggled hard to preserve their values and counter the spread of dangerous material over the Net.

Despite the "freedom" allowed by the Internet, there are many who need protection from this new medium. Preserving values for the future requires controlling the environment of our children. With the ever-increasing role of the Internet, and the diminishing methods of restraining it, this challenge is greater than ever.

Tips for Protecting Children on the Internet

Children should understand the following:

Never give out personal information of any sort.
Be very careful in chat rooms and never agree to meet anyone in person.
Never trade photographs over the Internet.
Parents should know who a child's online friends are, just as they do their "real" friends.
Have a time limit for using the Internet. Do not just surf for hours.

Parents should understand the following:

Be computer literate and know how to block certain material. This is the best defense.

Share an e-mail account with your children so you can monitor messages if needed.

Bookmark your child's favorite sites, so s/he spends less time surfing.

Keep children out of private chat rooms. There are ways to block them.

As always with children, monitor their behavior and look into sudden changes of behavior.

Society