A long term client of Hobo, has received the seal of approval from The British Board of Film Classification’s new media film classification scheme –The age-verification system, designed by NetlDmes, has been accredited by the British Board of Film Classification for its new media download classification scheme.

In May 2008, BBFC Online was introduced, and it utilises the Board’s famous ‘black cards’ and category symbols . This allows users downloading new media content to access whether or not it is suitable for mass consumption. Just as you would when visiting the cinema, or purchasing a DVD. However, you can use this same procedure when downloading video-on-demand, and streamed video which can be accessed by the general public through websites, set-top boxes and portable media devices.

NetIDme Chief Executive Alex Hewitt said:

“BBFC.online is a revolutionary scheme that enables the application of the same rules in the online world that have been developed over many years to protect people in the real world. To be one of the first companies to be accredited under the British Board of Film Classification’s scheme - and the only one capable of verifying whether somebody is under-age ( not yet 18) - is a ringing endorsement of our age-verification software, which is currently used by a number of blue chip companies.”

Andy Cooke, Business Manager for BBFC.online, said:

“We are pleased to commend NetIDme as a novel solution for our members in meeting their obligations to age-verify viewers of digital content in the 12, 15 and adult categories, whilst minimizing the exposure of younger viewers to potential abuse of their personal information.”

The BBFC.online scheme was developed as a result of findings which showed independent classification of down-loadable or streaming video content, either on the Internet or delivered by video-on-demand (VoD) services and via set-top-boxes, was inconclusive and possibly insufficient across the UK.

An Independent survey stated that 63 per cent of adults (74 per cent of parents) had questions concerning the downloading of video material which does not come with independent content advice and labelling. It also said that 84 per cent of adults (91 per cent of parents) wanted to see BBFC film and DVD classification on down-loadable/streaming films and other digital audiovisual content. To provide security and re-assuarnce.

For the past year and a half, the BBFC.online has grown, in conjunction with the video and new media industries and the British Video Association.

It calls for e-tailers and VoD services to have in place age-verification software such as that produced by NetIDme. This will allow parents to monitor just what their youngsters may be able to view and download.

In August 2006, NetlDme was formed by Alex Hewitt after his concerns were raised over his daughter’s use of instant messaging. When he discovered that, out of the 150 people on his daughter’s online friends list she knew actually only 50 of him. A worried parent, he wanted to monitor just whom it was she was talking to. And prevent her from conferring with people that could have been strangers.

The NetIDme system is designed to utilise a patented identity verification and communication solutions for online communities and ecommerce sites. It is currently available in the Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.

Congrats to Netidme for achieving this from all at Hobo!