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SINGAPORE: The Media Development Authority (MDA) is proposing that Internet Service Providers offer subscribers basic parental control tools for free with the subscription or renewal of Internet access packages.

It is seeking public feedback on its recommendations to better help parents monitor their children's Internet usage.

Public consultations end on May 9.

These enhancements aim to raise the awareness of parental control tools offered by local Internet Access Service Providers (IASPs) and make it easier for parents to subscribe to these services.

Free tools for parents to screen content their children view online should include filtering services to allow parents to specify the types of content they do not want their children to see, but the service providers can choose to offer premium functionalities at an additional cost.

This may become a reality if recommendations by the MDA are well-received by the public.

MDAs chief executive officer, Koh Lin-net, said: "We recognise that the Internet offers many opportunities for everyone, but at the same time, there are some pitfalls to also watch out for.

"In particular, we know today that young children, as young as three or four years old, are already accessing the Internet, and we wanted to make sure that parents are aware that parental control solutions are out there so that they can make decisions as to what they want their children to see or not to see."

Service providers can also play a greater role.

Currently, they need to inform and offer parental control services to subscribers when they sign up for or renew their residential broadband and mobile internet packages.

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MDA seeks public feedback on Internet parental controls