New UK internet safety organisation launches

The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), a new umbrella body promoting self-regulation in online safety, has launched in London today.

The organisation expands the remit of its creator, the Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA), which offers free tools to assist webmasters in labelling their sites as child-friendly or otherwise for filtering software.

"In this always on, digital world, things change quickly and we continually need new tools and methods to help keep families safe when they're online," said Stephen Balkam, chief executive of FOSI, in a statement.

Rather than supplying just the technology, FOSI aims to bring together government and industry leaders - such as Google - for discussion on using self-regulation to balance freedom of speech with protection of children.

"Not only does the new Family Online Safety Institute offer the technologies and underlying mission of ICRA, it also brings together the leading thinkers, technologists, academics, regulators and legislators to discuss and put into practice the means to help make a safer internet a reality," said Nick Truman, chairman of FOSI, in a statement.

The new institute is supported by UK and international technology companies including BT, Microsoft, Cisco and AT&T.