ATLANTA, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The Australian Government is partnering with U.S.-based InternetSafety.com to provide parents down under with free access to the leading Internet filtering software, Safe Eyes. The move is part of the Australian Government's extensive Internet safety initiative known as NetAlert - Protecting Australian Families Online.

"Australia is taking tremendous strides to promote the safety of its families," said InternetSafety.com's CEO, Forrest Collier. "The dangers facing families online - and children in particular - are very real. Prime Minister John Howard and Senator Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, should be commended for their leadership in this world-first initiative. We are excited to be a part of this historic move by the Australian Government."

Under the government plan, Australian families can choose between a limited number of vetted Internet content filters, including industry-leader Safe Eyes, which recently received PC Magazine's Editor's Choice Award for the second consecutive year. The Government undertook an extensive evaluation and testing process to select the Internet content filters involved in the initiative. In addition, the Australian Government is conducting a widespread awareness and education campaign, providing a toll-free Internet-safety hotline and expanding the law enforcement team responsible for the prosecution of online predators.

Australia's $189 million program is the first of its kind initiative launched by a nation's government. "The global nature of the Internet and the way it transcends national borders makes it a unique challenge for governments around the world," said Senator Coonan. "Despite these challenges, the Howard Government has been tackling the issue of offensive online content for more than seven years."

Early buzz in the blogsphere has praised the Government's decision to offer Safe Eyes. Bloggers have applauded Safe Eyes for allowing for the creation of customized protection options for each member of the family - no matter what age. Safe Eyes allows parents to limit time spent online; block and monitor web sites visited; and keep a record of instant messaging conversations, email, and social networking activity.

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A March 2007 survey of adults aged 18 and older conducted by the University of Michigan ranked issues relating to online safety as one of the top 10 health concerns for children today, and notes that "... state and federal legislators appear to have responded to public concerns about Internet safety for children, considering new legislation and issuing consumer alerts."

* What does your audience think about the government's role in providing online safety solutions? * What percentage of your audience already uses a parental/content control service?

About InternetSafety.com: Established in 1999, InternetSafety.com is the recognized leader in providing Internet safety solutions. Its flagship software, Safe Eyes, is the two-time recipient of the PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award and was rated as the No. 1 parental control solution by America's leading consumer advocacy publication. Safe Eyes and EtherShield - the suite of Internet filtering solutions developed by InternetSafety.com - are providing online protection for PCs and Macs in homes, businesses and schools in more than 125 nations worldwide. Visit http://www.internetsafety.com/.

CONTACT: Tracy Clement or Jeannine Rhoden, +1-770-813-0000 or
+1-770-401-8753, press@Internetsafety.com, both of InternetSafety.com

Web site: http://www.internetsafety.com/