[LINK] Porn detection software gets smarter

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

Porn detection software gets smarter
William Maher, Newswire
15/06/2000 06:47 PM
http://www.newswire.com.au/0006/porn.htm

The next time you log onto the Internet, hidden eyes may be watching your
every move.

An Australian software company has released a new weapon in the war against
sex on the Internet: software that examines pictures for naked flesh. The
anti-porn software, called eyeguard, is loaded onto each PC and is
activated each time an image is displayed.

Unlike most Internet filters, which search for keywords like 'sex',
eyeguard checks for "excessive skin tones". Each time a suspect image is
detected the program alerts an office supervisor.

The company behind the product, Eye-t Technology, says it takes only a
"split second" for eyeguard to recognise and block sex photos. The process
uses software algorithms designed to detect particular colours. A
spokesperson for the company said eyeguard is "not a net filter".

Eye-t Technology director David Dodunski claims much pornography in the
workplace is hidden in files such as email or presentations. "There's no
doubt companies need protection," he said.

Internet surfers hoping to find a way around the software may also be in
for a surprise. Not only does eyeguard alert the network administrator, but
it also disables the computer and takes a snapshot of the suspect image.

Eye-t Technology calls the program "censorware" and is pushing the product
at corporations now coping with a flood of inappropriate Internet traffic,
including pornography. In April, Telstra suspended 27 staff after a routine
maintenance check turned up sex images

-- 
Men are able to trust one another, knowing the exact degree of dishonesty
they are entitled to expect.
--Stephen Leacock

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
brd@dynamite.com.au