Covenant Eyes

Covenant Eyes
Covenant Eyes, Inc.
Type Private
Founded 2000
Founder Ronald DeHaas
Headquarters 1525 W. King St. Owosso, MI 48867
Website http://www.covenanteyes.com

Covenant Eyes is a software company that specializes in accountability software and filtering software that monitors the sexual content of web pages and other metrics. Users designate an accountability partner who is sent a detailed report of the web pages visited, with the pages scored one of six age-based ratings, from E (Everyone) to HM (Highly Mature). The premise is that accountability removes the anonymity of web use, thus decreasing the online disinhibition effect and enabling informed conversations about appropriate and inappropriate uses of the Internet.

Contents

Product philosophy

The inspiration behind the name “Covenant Eyes” comes from Job 31:1 in the Bible: “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.”

President and CEO Ron DeHaas incorporated Covenant Eyes in March 2000, and in June 2000, Covenant Eyes Version 1.0 was launched for Windows computers.[1] Originally located in Corunna, Michigan, DeHaas marketed Covenant Eyes internationally[2] to be used by individuals, families, businesses, churches, and other organizations that were interested in monitoring Internet use without blocking access through traditional filtering methods.

After seeking the advice of licensed counselors, DeHaas believed Internet accountability had a distinct advantage over filtering. Rather than relying on blocking access to websites, accountability, he believed, could train adults and children alike to be self-disciplined and self-controlled in their use of the Internet, specifically in overcoming bad or destructive habits.[3] [4] Focus on the Family writer Rob Jackson, LPC, agrees: “Internet filters are effective, but not perfect. For children and adolescents, a combination of a filter and an accountability web application like Covenant Eyes is better. If one willfully and repeatedly attempts to get around a filtered Internet, the computer is like a ‘Skinner box’ which actually reinforces the compulsion to find more pornography.” [5]

When Covenant Eyes was founded, DeHaas commented that accountability software is designed “to monitor all Internet sites visited and provide voluntary accountability for sites which attract people to the extent of isolating themselves and avoiding life responsibilities,” such as potentially addictive sites that include pornography, gambling, or other questionable material.[6]

Scoring system

In December 2010, Covenant Eyes changed its numerical web scoring system to a letter-based rating system, matching other entertainment industry standards, such as video game or movie ratings.[7] This was trademarked as the Age-Based Content Rating System (ABC Rating System). DeHaas commented on the reason for this change: “Our mission is to make it easy for families to talk about how the Internet is used in their home. Our reports allow parents to know how each of their kids use the Internet, and the age-based ratings for every web page visited helps parents tailor conversations to each child.”[8] Web sites, including the ads they display, are assigned one of six age-based ratings:[9]

  • E (Everyone) - suitable for all ages
  • Y (Youth) - parents may consider unsuitable for younger children
  • T (Teen) - includes social networking sites, games with violence
  • MT (Mature Teen) - mild profanity, material perhaps considered unsuitable for younger teens
  • M (Mature) - dating sites, lingerie, strong violence, material of a sexual nature
  • HM (Highly Mature) - nudity, erotica, pornography.

Corporate history

The Covenant Eyes accountability program offered subscribers an Internet accountability report, originally referred to as an “accountability script”[10] or “accountability log,”[11] to be e-mailed every two or four weeks to the software user’s accountability partner—such as a parent, spouse, friend, or counselor. [12] Later, subscribers had the option to have the report sent every week.[13] Web addresses were “scored” for pornographic or other sexual content, and highlighted on these reports.[14] [15] This scoring algorithm was designed to analyze and individually rate all web addresses within a domain. DeHaas deemed this particularly valuable on domains that contained a wide variety of content, such as Google Images, eBay.com, Amazon.com, or Myspace.com.[16]

In September 2004, Covenant Eyes Version 3.0 expanded its reporting to non-http protocols, including newsgroups, file-sharing, and FTP,[17] as well as reporting on the System Restore function,[18] which were common methods used to circumvent Internet monitoring and filtering software.

In February 2006, Covenant Eyes released a complementary Internet filtering program for Windows computers.[19]

In June 2006, after three years of research, Covenant Eyes released its accountability service for Macintosh computers.[20]

In April 2007, Covenant Eyes moved its global headquarters from Corunna to an adjacent city, Owosso, Michigan.[21] At the time, Covenant Eyes employed 34 associates, and their software was used by about 40,000 subscribers in 67 countries.[22] A year later, they had grown to 46 associates, and 44,000 subscribers in 142 countries.[23]

In May 2009, Covenant Eyes released its Internet accountability service for cell phones and PDAs using Windows Mobile 6.[24] This service has not been updated for Windows Mobile 7.

In December 2009, Covenant Eyes released a browser application for the iPhone and iPod touch.[25] All browsing done on this app is monitored and reflected on accountability reports. In September 2010, the app was upgraded for use on the iPad.[26]

In September 2010, Covenant Eyes announced its first educational e-book, Parenting the Internet Generation.[27] [28]

Philanthropy

From the earliest days, a portion of Covenant Eyes’ profits has gone to support the work of Nehemiah Ministries, a retreat and counseling center, located in Owosso, Michigan, for clergy and their families.[29]

On their 10th anniversary as a company, Covenant Eyes announced the creation of a college scholarship program. [30]

Patents

There are several pending U.S. patent applications for Covenant Eyes software, including:

  • US application 2005108383 “Internet Use Monitoring System and Method”[31]
  • US application 2007022296 “Electronic data registry and certification system and method”[32]
  • US application 2007061869 “Access of Internet use for a selected user”[33]

Awards and recognitions

  • Best Christian Places to Work[34] - Awarded in 2007
  • Michigan’s 50 Companies to Watch[35] - Awarded in 2010
  • Inc.5000[36] – Awarded in 2010

Recommendations

See also

References

  1. ^ “Internet Accountability Available for Mac Computers Includes Intel Versions”. Christiannewswire.com. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
  2. ^ “Parents can monitor Internet use”. The Argus-Press. 2001-12-31. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  3. ^ “Parents can monitor Internet use”. The Argus-Press. 2001-12-31. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  4. ^ Shepard, Liz (2006-12-30). “Local business helps monitor kids on the Net”. The Argus-Press. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  5. ^ Jackson, Rob. “When Children View Pornography”. Focusonthefamily.com. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  6. ^ Warren, Cheryll (2001-10-11). “New dial-up Internet service in place”. The Argus-Press. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  7. ^ “Internet Revolution: How Rating the Web Changes Everything”. PRWeb.com. 2010-12-27. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  8. ^ “Breakthrough Helps Parents Monitor, Filter Internet”. PRWeb.com. 2011-03-03. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  9. ^ What do the ratings mean? Covenanteyes.com. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
  10. ^ Warren, Cheryll (2001-10-11). “New dial-up Internet service in place”. The Argus-Press. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  11. ^ “Parents can monitor Internet use”. The Argus-Press. 2001-12-31. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  12. ^ “Covenant Eyes welcomes newcomer to it accountability software staff”. The Argus-Press. 2003-06-20. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  13. ^ “Parents can monitor Internet use”. The Argus-Press. 2001-12-31. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  14. ^ “Parents can monitor Internet use”. The Argus-Press. 2001-12-31. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  15. ^ “Covenant Eyes Version 3 Now Reports System Restore Usage as Part of its Patent-Pending Tampering Notification System”. PRWeb.com. 2004-10-07. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  16. ^ “Covenant Eyes Provides Effective Monitoring and Filtering for Sites Like Myspace and Google Images”. PRWeb.com. 2006-02-25. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  17. ^ “Covenant Eyes Internet Accountability releases Version 3, announces patent pending for filesharing and other non-http protocol accountability”. PRWEb.com. 2004-09-16. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  18. ^ “Covenant Eyes Version 3 Now Reports System Restore Usage as Part of its Patent-Pending Tampering Notification System”. PRWeb.com. 2004-10-07. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  19. ^ “Covenant Eyes Provides Effective Monitoring and Filtering for Sites Like Myspace and Google Images”. PRWeb.com. 2006-02-25. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  20. ^ “Internet Accountability Available for Mac Computers Includes Intel Versions”. PRWeb.com. 2006-06-14. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  21. ^ “Covenant Eyes celebrates anniversary at new location”. The Argus-Press. 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  22. ^ Shepherd, Liz (2007-04-21). “Covenant Eyes relocating to Owosso next week”. The Argus-Press. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  23. ^ “Covenant Eyes celebrates anniversary at new location”. The Argus-Press. 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  24. ^ “Mobile accountability - Covenant Eyes Releases Accountability Software for PDAs, Cell Phones”. PRWeb.com. 2009-05-23. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  25. ^ Gilkerson, Luke (2009-12-28). “Covenant Eyes iPhone App is Here!” Covenanteyes.com. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
  26. ^ Gilkerson, Luke (2010-09-28). “New: Covenant Eyes for the iPad (plus some updates to the iPhone app)”. Covenanteyes.com. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
  27. ^ “Free E-book Educated Parents about Online Dangers”. PRWeb.com. 2011-01-05. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  28. ^ Gilkerson, Luke (2010-10). “Be Informed. Be Brave”. Pure Minds Online. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
  29. ^ Warren, Cheryll (2001-10-11). “New dial-up Internet service in place”. The Argus-Press. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  30. ^ DeHaas, Ron (2010-03-31). “Happy Birthday Covenant Eyes”. Covenanteyes.com. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
  31. ^ "INTERNET USE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD". V3.espacenet.com. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
  32. ^ "Electronic data registry and certification system and method". V3.espacenet.com. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
  33. ^ "Access of Internet use for a selected user". V3.espacenet.com. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
  34. ^ “Best Christian Workplaces of 2007”. Bcwinstitute.com. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  35. ^ Russell, Kim (2010-03-29). “Owosso Business continues to grow in down economy”. Connectmidmichigan.com. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  36. ^ “Covenant Eyes – Owosso, MI”. Inc.com. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  37. ^ Gilkerson, Luke (2011-02-03). “Albert Mohler Speak to Parents about Internet Accountability in the Home”. Covenanteyes.com. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  38. ^ Neff, Sarah (2007-11-06). “Covenant Eyes aids porn addicts”. Kansas.com. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  39. ^ “Internet Problems?” Clergyrecoverynetwork.com. 2009-01-17. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  40. ^ Garrison, Becky (2010-02-16). “Surfing Your Values: An Interview with Daniel Lohrmann, Chief Technology Officer of Michigan”. Thehighcalling.org. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  41. ^ Gilkerson, Luke (2010-10-22). “Set Apart for Purity: Interview with Eric and Leslie Ludy” Covenanteyes.com. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  42. ^ “Casting Crowns Nominated for Third Grammy! Takes Covenant Eyes Along On 80 City Tour”. Top40-chrarts.com. 2007-11-10. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  43. ^ McManus, Mike (2004-07-03). “Court lets children retain access to porn”. Reading Eagle. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  44. ^ Hunter, Ron (2011-03-07). “Finding Excellence with Internet Accountability.” Covenanteyes.com. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  45. ^ Review of the software at abattleplan.com

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