Go.com to comply with new legislation

GO.com to Require Credit Card Verification From Adults for Children to Participate in Online Activities Involving External Communications

Beginning today, GO.com (NYSE:GO), the Internet business of The Walt Disney Company, will require parents to provide credit card authorization in order for their children to participate in any activities that involve external communications, such as message board posting, open chats, and holding an e-mail account. The requirement will be practiced across the GO.com family of Web sites, including GO.com, Disney.com, ESPN.com, ABCNEWS.com and ABC.com.

Since January 1999, GO.com and Disney Online have required parents to provide e-mail verification for the children to participate in online activities requiring parental permission on Disney.com. The new GO.com requirement is in response to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which takes effect on April 21. "Beginning with Disney Online and now with GO.com, we strive to be leaders in the area of safety and privacy on the Internet and encourage others to devise innovative online safety solutions. Disney has always put its guests first and this initiative continues as we expand online," said GO.com Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and General Counsel, Larry Shapiro.

The COPPA regulation stipulates that Web sites must: post their privacy policy; get verifiable parental consent before collecting, using or disclosing personal information about a child; get new consent when information practices change in a material way; allow parents to review personal information collected from their children; and allow parents to revoke their consent and delete information.

In its efforts to provide a safe online environment, GO.com does not market to children under the age of 13 and features GOguardian(TM), filtering software that helps users control access to adult content on the Web. Also, GO.com's Privacy Policy and Internet Safety Information, which features Internet safety tips, tools for families, resources for reporting trouble online, a guide to good content for kids and links to GetNetWise, is available from every page of every GO.com Web site.

Over the course of its existence Disney Online has introduced many initiatives aimed at helping families navigate the Internet and find family-friendly Web-content. Some efforts include:

• July 1999 - Disney Online served as a founding member of GetNetWise, an online resource for families, and dedicates a permanent home for privacy and safety.
• June 1999 -- In conjunction with a special television episode of "Disney's Doug" that explored the issue of Internet safety, Disney Online introduced Doug's Safety Web Page, providing families with an at-home resource for making wise surfing choices.
• September 1998 -- Disney Online participated in the America Links Up campaign, which brought together educators, public, private and non-profit organizations in a public awareness event designed to help kids, parents, teachers and others learn how to use the Internet safely and productively.
• 1998 -- Disney Online hosted its first "Smart Surfing Week," an education program dedicated to helping families navigate the online world wisely.
• 1997 - Disney Online publishes the CyberNetiquette Comix series, which provides families with an entertaining and interactive way to learn valuable lessons about online safety.