Stephen Balkam
Encyclopedia
Stephen Balkam is the founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute
(FOSI) , FOSI's mission is to make the online world safer for kids and their families. FOSI convenes the top thinkers and practitioners in government, industry and the nonprofit sectors to collaborate, innovate and create a Culture of Responsibility in the online world. Balkam sits on the Facebook Safety Advisory Board and the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee (ICAC).
(ICRA) and led a team which developed the world’s leading content labeling system on the web. While with ICRA, he served on the US Child Online Protection Commission (COPA Commission), a congressionally appointed panel mandated by the Child Online Protection Act
that was approved by Congress in October 1998. The primary purpose of the Commission was to "identify technological or other methods that will help reduce access by minors to material that is harmful to minors on the Internet."
In 1994, Balkam was named the first Executive Director of the Recreational Software Advisory Council
which created a unique self-labeling system for computer games and in 1996 launched RSACi – a forerunner to the ICRA website labeling system. Balkam was invited as a representative of the RSAC to the first and subsequent White House Internet Summits during the Clinton Administration.
In 2008 Balkam, was invited to join the Internet Safety Technical Task Force headed by the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. The task force was " leading Internet businesses and organizations", and focused on "identifying effective online safety tools and technologies that can be used by many companies across multiple platforms". The final report, "Enhancing Child Safety and Online Technologies", was released on January 14, 2009. Balkam was also a member of Point Smart, Click Safe, a coalition of tech companies and child advocacy groups which originally convened in June 2008 and released a report in July 2009 encouraging industry self-regulation and education efforts rather than legislation as the best way to keep children safe online.
Balkam’s other positions include the Executive Director of the National Stepfamily Association (UK); General Secretary of the Islington Voluntary Action Council; Executive Director of Camden Community Transport as well as management positions at the Institute of Contemporary Arts
(London) and Inter-Action. Balkam’s first job was with Burroughs Machines (now Unisys) and he worked briefly for West Nally Ltd, a sports sponsorship PR company.
, CBS
, NPR
and the BBC
and has been interviewed in the mainstream press, including leading newspapers such as the Washington Post, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal
and The Guardian
. Balkam has given presentations and spoken in 16 countries on 4 continents.
in Wales in 1977. A native of Washington, DC, he spent many years in the UK and now has dual citizenship.
In 2000, Balkam was named one of the Top 50 UK Movers and Shakers by Internet Magazine.
Family Online Safety Institute
The Family Online Safety Institute, or FOSI, is an international nonprofit organization. It is registered as a 501 tax-deductible nonprofit charity in the United States and a registered charity in the United Kingdom. FOSI was founded in February 2007 by Stephen Balkam, who previously created the...
(FOSI) , FOSI's mission is to make the online world safer for kids and their families. FOSI convenes the top thinkers and practitioners in government, industry and the nonprofit sectors to collaborate, innovate and create a Culture of Responsibility in the online world. Balkam sits on the Facebook Safety Advisory Board and the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee (ICAC).
Career
Balkam was the Founder and CEO of the Internet Content Rating AssociationInternet Content Rating Association
Internet Content Rating Association was an international non-profit organization with offices in the United States and the United Kingdom...
(ICRA) and led a team which developed the world’s leading content labeling system on the web. While with ICRA, he served on the US Child Online Protection Commission (COPA Commission), a congressionally appointed panel mandated by the Child Online Protection Act
Child Online Protection Act
The Child Online Protection Act was a law in the United States of America, passed in 1998 with the declared purpose of restricting access by minors to any material defined as harmful to such minors on the Internet...
that was approved by Congress in October 1998. The primary purpose of the Commission was to "identify technological or other methods that will help reduce access by minors to material that is harmful to minors on the Internet."
In 1994, Balkam was named the first Executive Director of the Recreational Software Advisory Council
Recreational Software Advisory Council
The Recreational Software Advisory Council was an independent, non-profit organization founded in the USA in 1994 by the Software Publishers Association as well as six other industry leaders in response to video game controversy and threats of government regulation.The goal of the council was to...
which created a unique self-labeling system for computer games and in 1996 launched RSACi – a forerunner to the ICRA website labeling system. Balkam was invited as a representative of the RSAC to the first and subsequent White House Internet Summits during the Clinton Administration.
In 2008 Balkam, was invited to join the Internet Safety Technical Task Force headed by the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. The task force was " leading Internet businesses and organizations", and focused on "identifying effective online safety tools and technologies that can be used by many companies across multiple platforms". The final report, "Enhancing Child Safety and Online Technologies", was released on January 14, 2009. Balkam was also a member of Point Smart, Click Safe, a coalition of tech companies and child advocacy groups which originally convened in June 2008 and released a report in July 2009 encouraging industry self-regulation and education efforts rather than legislation as the best way to keep children safe online.
Balkam’s other positions include the Executive Director of the National Stepfamily Association (UK); General Secretary of the Islington Voluntary Action Council; Executive Director of Camden Community Transport as well as management positions at the Institute of Contemporary Arts
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
(London) and Inter-Action. Balkam’s first job was with Burroughs Machines (now Unisys) and he worked briefly for West Nally Ltd, a sports sponsorship PR company.
In The Press
Balkam writes regularly for the Huffington Post, has appeared on nationally syndicated TV and radio programs such as MSNBCMSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and has been interviewed in the mainstream press, including leading newspapers such as the Washington Post, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
and The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
. Balkam has given presentations and spoken in 16 countries on 4 continents.
Education
Balkam received a BA, magna cum laude, in Psychology from Cardiff UniversityCardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
in Wales in 1977. A native of Washington, DC, he spent many years in the UK and now has dual citizenship.
Honors
For his efforts in online safety with the RSAC, he was awarded the 1998 Carl Bertelsmann Prize in Gutersloh, Germany, for innovation and responsibility in the Information Society.In 2000, Balkam was named one of the Top 50 UK Movers and Shakers by Internet Magazine.
External links
- Family Online Safety Institute Welcome