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SurfWatch, Inc. was a Los Altos, CA-based company which pioneered the first software that allowed users to block explicit content on the Internet. By disallowing computers from accessing specified sites and by screening for newsgroups likely to contain sexually explicit material, SurfWatch was able to aid parents, educators and employers in preventing access to offensive material from a specific computer. The Apple Macintosh version of SurfWatch 1.0 first shipped in May 1995 and was followed by the Microsoft version in July of the same year.〔Surfwatch company fact sheet, 2005.〕 Due to its specific locus of control, SurfWatch and various similar software programs played an instrumental role in helping to overturn the Communications Decency Act, as they offered an alternative to internet censorship. Because Surfwatch gave users a choice as to what should be blocked, it offered an alternative to broad censorship of online material.〔(“SurfWatch plays crucial role in overturning communications decency act” ), June 12, 1996, accessed January 20, 2011.〕 Surfwatch has been criticized by Peacefire for unfairly blocking gay and lesbian resource sites.〔(“Surfwatch examined” ), accessed January 20, 2011.〕 ==Founders== Surfwatch was founded by Ann Duvall, Bill Duvall, and Jay Friedland. Ann Duvall, President of SurfWatch software had performed a wide variety of roles in high-tech prior to her involvement with SurfWatch. Bill Duvall, CEO of Surfwatch, had been previously involved in founding and developing technology companies for 30 years. In the course of his work, he gained the distinction of writing the software which sent the first package across the Internet in 1969. He coauthored RFC’s 1, 2 and 3. Bill is featured in a video on the 40th anniversary of the Internet.〔(Computer History Museum: Happy 40th Birthday to a Radical Idea! )〕 Since their work on SurfWatch, Bill Duvall and Ann Duvall have gone on to create “ChoosetheBlue.com,” a website that provided information as to which companies had employees that primarily supported democratic candidates and which companies had employees who primarily supported republican candidates. The site was intended to encourage consumers to spend money in places that would support democratic causes.〔Skalka, Jennifer.(“Blue voters now urged to buy blue” ), “Chicago tribune”,December 14, 2004, accessed January 20, 2011.〕 Jay Friedland, who acted as Vice President of Marketing and Sales had 15 years of experience in high-tech management at the time of SurfWatch’s creation. He has since gone on to assist Internet start-up companies in establishing new business models for commerce on the net. Currently, he works as Vice President of Strategy and Sustainability for Zero Motorcycles and as Legislative Director for Plug In America. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「SurfWatch」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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