YouTube security options from latest LGfL Announcement

[DavR]

So, it looks like the issue of YouTube and internet filtering is just one that won't die! In the security bulletin LGfL sent round to headteachers and NCs today, it's discussed again.

 

Apparently there are three options now for YouTube filtering - Open, Moderate, and Severe:

 

Open: inappropriate / very high-risk

 

This option leaves schools open to accusations of not safeguarding children; it exposes users to every YouTube video of pornography, graphic violence and more (although these are against YouTube terms and conditions). LGfL advises in the strongest possible terms against this option. However, if a headteacher has reasons to bypass our filtering in this way, it is technically possible.

 

Moderate-restricted mode

 

This is not the recommended option and not turned on by default. However, some schools may find it appropriate to activate this mode, as it is much less restrictive and allows some educational videos which were previously visible but blocked by the severe-restricted mode.

 

An informed decision to adopt this option should take into consideration that, whilst you are unlikely to ever see sex, pornography, beheadings, etc (which would be common on the non-restricted version), it does not block keywords. So for example, you can search for ‘sex’ and view videos on the topic of sex, but these will be largely appropriate for older children. A search for ‘pornography’ may return advice videos about sexual health, addiction, etc., which might be acceptable for older children, but not for younger ones.

 

Many inappropriate words are used in the title of YouTube channels accessible via this mode (e.g. falsely indicating a link to pornography to encourage clicks). Investigation during mid-June 2016 revealed none that actually show pornography, but this is a possibility. Some videos were found that were without inappropriate visuals but of people discussing sexual encounters, which many schools would want to block.

 

Severe-restricted mode: safest, recommended option

This is now the default mode which all schools have access to. There is always a danger that inappropriate material may be accessed, but it is unlikely due to the highly restrictive version of this mode.

 

Unfortunately, we have received reports from schools that videos which are clearly educational and school- videos are being blocked. This remains the basis for our future work and discussions with Google. We are working hard to find a better solution for schools as detailed above, but ultimately remain constrained by Google, which as an independent company is free to operate its systems as it chooses.[/Quote]

 

Now, I'm guessing that behind the scenes, the Severe is the really harsh replacement for Safe Search that turned up last December / January time, and that Open is probably still the conditional DNS forwarders fix that they had to give us in response to the overblocked mode. But does anyone know what Moderate might consist of, and how that's implemented?

 

I am conscious that we are currently running YouTube without any restrictions at the moment (though that said, only staff can use it, so minimal risk).

Edited July 7, 2016 by DavR

[DavR]

As an aside, I see they're also still OBSESSED with attempting to block keywords on https Google searches. When will they ever give that one up as just acceptable risk? It's already enforced Safe Search, and besides, you can't get to most of the pages if you clicked on the results. To the extent that they're recommending people block Google and use Bing of all things.... HAHAHAHAHAHA..... no.

[p858snake]

…To the extent that they're recommending people block Google and use Bing of all things.... HAHAHAHAHAHA..... no.

 

I've found a lot worse on Bing very quickly compared to YouTube (and that is without the search terms I know will bring up results). Maybe it was a nudge from MS to recommend it?