'Rated R' May Be Coming to a Website Near You

Calling the Internet a “quite dangerous place,” Britain’s culture secretary says he’ll work with the Obama administration on establishing international guidelines to protect children. One idea under consideration: giving websites film-style ratings, the Telegraph reports. “There is definitely a case for clearer standards online,” said Andy Burnham, adding that America’s “change of administration is a big moment. We have got a real opportunity to make common cause.”

Burnham said other possibilities include requiring Internet service providers to offer kid-friendly services and mandating “take down times,” or deadlines, for sites such as YouTube to remove offensive content once they are alerted. “There is content that should just not be available to be viewed,” the secretary said. “This is not a campaign against free speech. Far from it.”
(More United Kingdom stories.)