Assessment status:
Bebo has passed the AWL assessment.
Website link: www.bebo.com
Assessor: NeorageX
Closed on 20/11/2007
Bebo has passed the AWL assessment.
Website link: www.bebo.com
Assessor: NeorageX
Closed on 20/11/2007
Bebo
Bebo is a social media network where friends share their lives and explore great entertainment. Bebo is the next generation social networking service where members can stay in touch with their College friends, connect with friends, share photos, discover new interests and just hang out.
PASS
PASS
PASS
CRITERIA
Abuse, bans, sanctions
The site's rules must, at a minimum ban and have sanctions for the following: Offensive language (including discrimination, and bullying of users), promotion/endorsement of illegal activity, adult material, advertising/linking to adult/offensive sites.
REPORT
According to the terms of service, site administrators may, but are not obligated to, remove any offensive, obscene, or solicitous posts based on their discretion. As for sanctions imposed for breaking these rules, I could not find anything that clearly lays these out in the site's policy.
Abuse, bans, sanctions
The site's rules must, at a minimum ban and have sanctions for the following: Offensive language (including discrimination, and bullying of users), promotion/endorsement of illegal activity, adult material, advertising/linking to adult/offensive sites.
REPORT
According to the terms of service, site administrators may, but are not obligated to, remove any offensive, obscene, or solicitous posts based on their discretion. As for sanctions imposed for breaking these rules, I could not find anything that clearly lays these out in the site's policy.
CRITERIA
Code of conduct
Site staff must have a code of conduct in dealing with users and what powers they may use and when. Site staff must also be monitored to be following the rules and not misusing powers or their position.
REPORT
Employees are trained to take all privacy and safety matters very seriously. As for an actual documented Code of Conduct, I haven't found one. Will investigate further.
Code of conduct
Site staff must have a code of conduct in dealing with users and what powers they may use and when. Site staff must also be monitored to be following the rules and not misusing powers or their position.
REPORT
Employees are trained to take all privacy and safety matters very seriously. As for an actual documented Code of Conduct, I haven't found one. Will investigate further.
CRITERIA
Comply with laws
The site must comply with all relevant privacy laws depending on the country they are based in, e.g. The Data Protection Act.
REPORT
As stated in Privacy Policy.
Comply with laws
The site must comply with all relevant privacy laws depending on the country they are based in, e.g. The Data Protection Act.
REPORT
As stated in Privacy Policy.
CRITERIA
Hide personal information
If the site allows people to make 'profiles' with personal information on them, the option to either hide the information from all but the person's friends must be on all information which could be used to identify a child (phone number, address, full name, school attended, email address.
REPORT
Like myspace, you are allowed to restrict the viewing of your profile to friends only, and can choose to approve comments before they are posted to your profile.
Hide personal information
If the site allows people to make 'profiles' with personal information on them, the option to either hide the information from all but the person's friends must be on all information which could be used to identify a child (phone number, address, full name, school attended, email address.
REPORT
Like myspace, you are allowed to restrict the viewing of your profile to friends only, and can choose to approve comments before they are posted to your profile.
CRITERIA
Identifiable moderators/staff
Official site staff, moderators and helpers are clearly identifiable to users.
REPORT
Staff have email addresses and contact information available to speak directly with credentialed staff.
Identifiable moderators/staff
Official site staff, moderators and helpers are clearly identifiable to users.
REPORT
Staff have email addresses and contact information available to speak directly with credentialed staff.
CRITERIA
Information on issues relating to children
Site staff show awareness of issues that may arise from children using the site including how to deal with bullying, abuse and paedophiles.
REPORT
See above sections about safety.
Information on issues relating to children
Site staff show awareness of issues that may arise from children using the site including how to deal with bullying, abuse and paedophiles.
REPORT
See above sections about safety.
CRITERIA
Moderation, approval, filters
If the site has forums or chat rooms they must have a system of moderation which is reasonably effective in dealing with issues. Moderation may include: Live moderators, requiring moderator approval of posts, or word filters, other systems of moderation will be judged in its effectiveness before being approved.
REPORT
Information and links are provided with which to contact a moderator with any issues. Other than that, there are no standard chat rooms or forums to worry about.
Moderation, approval, filters
If the site has forums or chat rooms they must have a system of moderation which is reasonably effective in dealing with issues. Moderation may include: Live moderators, requiring moderator approval of posts, or word filters, other systems of moderation will be judged in its effectiveness before being approved.
REPORT
Information and links are provided with which to contact a moderator with any issues. Other than that, there are no standard chat rooms or forums to worry about.
CRITERIA
No adware, spyware, malware
The site must not be harmful and must not contain viruses, spyware, adware or malware.
REPORT
In the Disclaimer of Warranties, it is stated that Bebo and it's affiliates make no claim that their servers will never be infected with malware, however, the administrators state in the Privacy Policy that industry standard security software is used for protection, and provides a link to contact the administrators with any security concerns.
No adware, spyware, malware
The site must not be harmful and must not contain viruses, spyware, adware or malware.
REPORT
In the Disclaimer of Warranties, it is stated that Bebo and it's affiliates make no claim that their servers will never be infected with malware, however, the administrators state in the Privacy Policy that industry standard security software is used for protection, and provides a link to contact the administrators with any security concerns.
CRITERIA
No encouraging real life meeting
The site must not encourage children to meet in real life, regardless of circumstances.
REPORT
Once again, the safety section discourages real life meetings.
No encouraging real life meeting
The site must not encourage children to meet in real life, regardless of circumstances.
REPORT
Once again, the safety section discourages real life meetings.
CRITERIA
No harmful links/bad affiliates
The site must not have links, affiliations or activities to any sites which break the rules listed above. The site may also not be a 'sub-group' to any site that breaks the above rules.
REPORT
No such links found on the site. Of course, users themselves may post their own links, but as previously mentioned, it is up to the discernment of the administrators as to what to do with the content.
No harmful links/bad affiliates
The site must not have links, affiliations or activities to any sites which break the rules listed above. The site may also not be a 'sub-group' to any site that breaks the above rules.
REPORT
No such links found on the site. Of course, users themselves may post their own links, but as previously mentioned, it is up to the discernment of the administrators as to what to do with the content.
CRITERIA
No third party sales
The site does not sell, or give away members' information to external sites or companies without a CLEAR and easy to understand 'opt-in' system.
REPORT
According to the Privacy Policy, the ONLY time Bebo will ever give out any of your personal information is if given a court order to do so or if you expressly direct them to. Elsewise, your information will not be sold or distributed.
No third party sales
The site does not sell, or give away members' information to external sites or companies without a CLEAR and easy to understand 'opt-in' system.
REPORT
According to the Privacy Policy, the ONLY time Bebo will ever give out any of your personal information is if given a court order to do so or if you expressly direct them to. Elsewise, your information will not be sold or distributed.
CRITERIA
Privacy Policy, Terms of Use
The site rules, privacy policy and terms of use must be reasonably easy to find.
REPORT
Posted directly on the front page, as well as access to an in-depth guide to safety.
Privacy Policy, Terms of Use
The site rules, privacy policy and terms of use must be reasonably easy to find.
REPORT
Posted directly on the front page, as well as access to an in-depth guide to safety.
CRITERIA
Privacy protection
The site takes reasonable steps to protect the privacy of its users, and ensures that private information is not leaked or stolen.
REPORT
See above notes on Privacy Policy
Privacy protection
The site takes reasonable steps to protect the privacy of its users, and ensures that private information is not leaked or stolen.
REPORT
See above notes on Privacy Policy
CRITERIA
Report complaints/abuse system
There must be an easy to use complaint/abuse report system where users can report issues of rule breaking or abuse.
REPORT
As mentioned before, all of this is covered in great detail in the safety education part of the site.
Report complaints/abuse system
There must be an easy to use complaint/abuse report system where users can report issues of rule breaking or abuse.
REPORT
As mentioned before, all of this is covered in great detail in the safety education part of the site.
CRITERIA
Rules, zero tolerance
The site's staff must deal with rule breaking in an effective way and have a zero tolerance policy on child abuse, bullying and cybersex.
REPORT
The site has an entire section to educate users about these issues, and shows users what to watch out for and how to report the above offenses.
Rules, zero tolerance
The site's staff must deal with rule breaking in an effective way and have a zero tolerance policy on child abuse, bullying and cybersex.
REPORT
The site has an entire section to educate users about these issues, and shows users what to watch out for and how to report the above offenses.
CRITERIA
Contact forms
The site has a way for parents to contact staff with their concerns, which are dealt with effectively.
REPORT
Safety Section has all the info.
Contact forms
The site has a way for parents to contact staff with their concerns, which are dealt with effectively.
REPORT
Safety Section has all the info.
CRITERIA
Helpdesk/in-house help system
The site provides an in-house help system, examples of this include: a 'helpdesk' chat room, a help and support forum, a knowledge base, and dedicated email addresses for support.
REPORT
Help page included.
Helpdesk/in-house help system
The site provides an in-house help system, examples of this include: a 'helpdesk' chat room, a help and support forum, a knowledge base, and dedicated email addresses for support.
REPORT
Help page included.
CRITERIA
Ignore/block functionality
The option to ignore/block a person in chat rooms, profiles, forums etc. should be available.
REPORT
The option to ignore or block a user is in place.
Ignore/block functionality
The option to ignore/block a person in chat rooms, profiles, forums etc. should be available.
REPORT
The option to ignore or block a user is in place.
CRITERIA
Probationary training of new staff
New site staff/moderators have a probationary/training period where they are monitored more closely and have powers restricted before becoming full staff members/moderators.
REPORT
Not expressly stated in the site's documentation.
Probationary training of new staff
New site staff/moderators have a probationary/training period where they are monitored more closely and have powers restricted before becoming full staff members/moderators.
REPORT
Not expressly stated in the site's documentation.
CRITERIA
Protection from predators
There is a clear policy on dealing with predatory behaviour which includes dealing with the offender, protecting users and notifying the necessary authorities.
REPORT
It is not expressly stated how the site handles reporting/dealing with this behavior.
Protection from predators
There is a clear policy on dealing with predatory behaviour which includes dealing with the offender, protecting users and notifying the necessary authorities.
REPORT
It is not expressly stated how the site handles reporting/dealing with this behavior.
CRITERIA
Safety guidelines
The site provides suitable advice on safe use and how to report trouble, or links to the Privacy Commission's safety guides (with the link in a clear and easy to find place)
REPORT
Site offers a complete section on safety.
Safety guidelines
The site provides suitable advice on safe use and how to report trouble, or links to the Privacy Commission's safety guides (with the link in a clear and easy to find place)
REPORT
Site offers a complete section on safety.
CRITERIA
Staff awareness
The site has one or more members of staff who are fully aware of child issues online (having a staff member pass the special course coming soon automatically qualify for this)
REPORT
Again in the safety section
Staff awareness
The site has one or more members of staff who are fully aware of child issues online (having a staff member pass the special course coming soon automatically qualify for this)
REPORT
Again in the safety section
