In 2006 and 2007, both McCain and Obama supported measures to shield children and teens on the Internet from sexual predators, including on IM clients, social networking platforms and other popular web destinations.
Here is a closer look at policies both candidates have advocated recently in protecting kids on IM and their other policies on technology:
Sen. John McCain
- Author of the 2006 “Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation Online Act” and 2007 “Securing Adolescents from Exploitation-Online Act,” both introduced in the Senate.
- Advocated mandatory filing of the Internet accounts, IM screennames and other online identifiers for registered sex offenders.
- Supports policies obligating ISPs to monitor websites for child pornography
- Supports requiring registered sex offenders to pay for online activity monitoring
- On Net Neutrality: Supports “an open marketplace with a variety of consumer choices” as the best deterrent against unfair practices, rather than a “prescriptive regulation” like net neutrality, according to McCain’s website.
- On Connecting America: Advocates encouraging private investment for Internet infrastructure across the country and giving tax breaks for companies offering high-speed Internet access to low-income households.
Sen. Barack Obama
- Co-sponsored the 2007 “Combating Child Exploitation Act,” authored by rumored Obama VP nominee, Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.)
- Co-sponsored a 2007 bill authored by Sen. Chuch Schumer (D-NY), making the filing of the Internet accounts, IM screennames and other online identifiers mandatory for registered sex offenders.
- Supports the establishment of a special counsel within the Attorney General’s office to fight child pornography
- Supports increasing funding and resources for law enforcement and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to help fight child predators
- On Net Neutrality: Supports “the principle of network neutrality”, according to Obama’s website.
