Sentry Parental Controls

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{{COI|date=August 2014}}

{{notability|Products|date=August 2014}}

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Sentry Parental Controls was a group of content-control software packages, designed to log, notify, and block Internet content that its users saw as unsuitable for children.

The software was developed by SearchHelp Inc. (OTCBB: SHLP).{{cite web|title= Full Description SearchHelp Inc (OTC BB)|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?symbol=SHLP.OB|date=2008|accessdate=2008-10-05}} In 2009, SearchHelp changed its name to Echometrix Inc. (OTCBB: EHMI). In 2010, EchoMetrix changed its name to ProText Mobility Inc. (OTCBB: TXTM).

In 2008, the company's software packages comprised Sentry At Home and Sentry Remote. Sentry Predator Locator was discontinued in December 2007.{{cite web|url=http://pumpic.com/security/internet-is-parents-biggest-fear/|title=Internet is parents' biggest fear|date=2016|publisher=Online security blog|accessdate=2016-03-31}}

In common with other software of this type, it provided parental controls on the use of web browsers, instant messaging, file transfers and other applications through a web-based control panel and updates on a computer with real-time protection. The person who had installed the software could log into this control panel from any other computer with the option to allow or block certain words, phrases, URLs and categories that they considered inappropriate.

The software was endorsed by American football player Drew Bledsoe in January 2008 as part of the "Parenting With Dignity" program.{{cite web|title=SearchHelp, Pro-Motions and Drew Bledsoe Form Strategic Partnership to Promote Software Through Celebrity and Non-Profit Organization Involvement|publisher=Marketwire|date=January 17, 2008|url=http://finance.sfgate.com/hearst?Account=sfgate&GUID=4356985&Page=MediaViewer&Ticker=SHLP|accessdate=2008-10-04}} Sentry Parental Controls - UK was launched on April 8, 2008. Coleen Nolan from Loose Women virally launched the software{{cite news|url= http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-media-news/north-west-marketing-services/brazen-to-launch-software-to-protect-children-from-web-predators,-with-coleen-nolan%E2%80%99s-help-200803262203/|title=Brazen to launch software to protect children from web predators, with Coleen Nolan's help|website=How-Do | date = March 26, 2008| accessdate=2008-04-24}} and later that month a technology reviewer in the Daily Telegraph called it a "Must Have".{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3356999/Must-have-Sentry-Parental-Controls.html|title=Must have: Sentry Parental Controls|date=10 April 2008|accessdate=2014-08-20|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}} As of October 2008, it was in use by 30,000 parents in the US.{{cite news |title=Talking to children at their own level is very important|newspaper=South Wales Echo|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2008/05/05/talking-to-children-at-their-own-level-is-very-important-91466-20863802/|date=2008|accessdate=2008-10-05}}

In 2010, the US Federal Trade Commission settled a lawsuit it had filed against EchoMetrix. The company was charged with selling information gathered via Sentry Parental Controls to marketing organizations.{{cite book|author=Gina Stevens|title=Privacy Protections for Personal Information Online|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kRIIhyWExqQC&pg=PA8|date=August 2011|publisher=DIANE Publishing|isbn=978-1-4379-8476-7|page=8}} According to the FTC, "The only disclosure made to parents about this practice was a vague statement approximately 30 paragraphs into a multi-page end user license agreement."{{cite web|url=http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2010/11/ftc-settles-company-failed-tell-parents-childrens-information|publisher=Federal Trade Commission|title=FTC Settles with Company that Failed to Tell Parents that Children's Information Would be Disclosed to Marketers|date=November 30, 2010|accessdate=2014-08-20}}{{cite book|author=Lori Andrews|title=I Know Who You Are and I Saw What You Did: Social Networks and the Death of Privacy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XCtKe6Mjx-0C&pg=PA47|date=10 January 2012|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-4516-5051-8|page=47}} The terms of the settlement required EchoMetrix to destroy its existing data gathered through the software and refrain from sharing such data.{{cite web|url=http://www.business.ftc.gov/blog/2010/12/ftc%E2%80%99s-echometrix-settlement-eula-ppreciate-guidance-privacy-disclosures|title=FTC's EchoMetrix settlement: EULA-ppreciate this guidance on privacy disclosures|publisher=Federal Trade Commission|date=December 3, 2010|accessdate=2014-08-20}} The US Department of Defense's Army and Air Force Exchange Service had removed the product's listing in October 2009 after privacy concerns were raised by the Electronic Privacy Information Center.{{cite web|url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141821/DOD_nixes_vendor_of_online_monitoring_software_over_privacy_concerns|title=DOD nixes vendor of online monitoring software over privacy concerns|date=December 4, 2009|accessdate=2014-08-21|publisher=Computerworld}}