[OLPC Security] olpc security - wetware issues

[alien]

No-- that's why I suggested the software could provide a "written or
spoken report of childrens' activity." I'm sure there are other
possible solutions as well, if we put a few creative minds on the
task.

s

"Simson L. Garfinkel" writes:
>Aren't you implicitly assuming that the parents can read?
>
>>
>> Yes, the parents are likely to have little to no technical
>> experience. That does not mean that we can ignore them or attempt to
>> act "in loco parentis" when it comes to technical matters.  We must
>> provide tools and some basic educational material so that those
>> parents who choose to take an interest in their childrens' education
>> are able to do so.
>>
>>>kids on online safety.  That seems like a better approach and one that
>>>fits the goals of OLPC more than having software that attempts to
>>>restrict the children.
>>
>> I agree that there should be an online safety campaign-- that's a
>> great idea, and certainly necessary. But I'm sure that if the trend of
>> online exploitation in the developed world is reversing, it is also
>> because parents in the developed world are becoming savvier, and have
>> been provided with tools by large companies which allow them to keep a
>> closer eye on their children's activity. Hence, in addition to an
>> online safety campaign aimed at children, we should also provide
>> educational materials aimed at parents, and provide them with the
>> tools they need-- which we already have-- that would allow them to
>> keep a watchful eye on their kids.
>>
>> Brainstorming: envision, for example, a "For Parents" piece of
>> software on the system, which will provide either a written or spoken
>> report of childrens' activity, allow the parent to touch a button for
>> further detail on any one section, and with the touch of another
>> button will easily allow parents to modify access to a particular IM
>> buddy/web site.
>>
>> s
>>
>> Matt Anderson writes:
>>>On Thu, Feb 08, 2007 at 06:12:24PM -0500, alien wrote:
>>>> In the developed world, kids who are solicited online often become
>>>> real-life victims of their online "friends." There is no point in
>>>> distributing these laptops for educational purposes without some basic
>>>> safety mechanisms that will prevent their owners from becoming
>>>> victimized as well. A tool which enables parental monitoring/controls
>>>> is a fundamental program and should be distributed by default with
>>>> each laptop. This is not "extra," and to fail to include it will
>>>> result in deaths. Really.
>>>
>>>My understanding was these computers would be distributed to children
>>>who's parents would not be able to afford their own computer, and who
>>>most likely are even less computer literate than the child who owns it.
>>>How are they supposed to fit into what you are suggesting?  What level
>>>of protection can they be expected to provide?  The control could be
>>>given to the school or the government, but that doesn't seem much
>>>better to me.
>>>
>>>To me what you are describing is a user problem.  Kids in developed
>>>countries are falling for these sorts of online traps because they
>>>weren't given instructions on how to stay safe online.  Recently that
>>>trend has been reversing because there have been campaigns to educate
>>>kids on online safety.  That seems like a better approach and one that
>>>fits the goals of OLPC more than having software that attempts to
>>>restrict the children.
>>>
>>>-matt
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