ICRA (RSAC)Timeline ...............

The Internet Content Rating Association was formed in 1999 but its origins go back to foundation of the Recreational Software Advisory Council in 1994. ICRA was tasked with globalizing the US-centred RSACi system.


Spring 1994

US Senators Lieberman and Kohl introduce legislation to create a government-run ratings board for computer and video games, but give industry one year to create a self-regulatory scheme.

Summer 1994

Software Publishers Association and five other US trade associations meet to create the Recreational Software Advisory Council and to develop the first ever content rating system.

September 8, 1994

RSAC incorporated as a non-profit organization in Washington, DC.

October 1994

First games rated using the RSAC rating system.

November 1994

Stephen Balkam named first RSAC Executive Director.


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May 1995

100th game rated using RSAC rating system.

July 1995

Stephen Balkam testifies to Senate Judiciary Hearings on Pornography and the Internet; commits RSAC to develop a self-rating, content rating system for the Internet.

October 1995

Public launch of "PICS" Platform for Internet Content Selection.

November 1995

RSACi (RSAC on the Internet) Working Group has first meeting with representatives from Microsoft, ATT, Bell Atlantic, Time Warner, W3C & others.


February 1996

RSACi announce system and major sponsorship from Microsoft and integration of the system within Internet Explorer 3.0.

April 1996

RSACi system launched at www.rsac.org. Sites from all over world begin rating with RSACi.

May 1996

European launch of PICS and RSACi in joint press conference in Paris.

July 1996

USWeb becomes an RSACi Sponsor.

August 1996

Release of Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 with RSACi as default rating system within Content Advisor


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April 1997

PointCast joins growing list of RSACi Sponsors; incorporates system into products.

July 1997

Launch of the International Working Group on Content Rating in Bonn, Germany. Members include Internet Watch Foundation (UK); Childnet International (UK); Electronic Commerce Forum (Germany); RSAC and Australian Broadcasting Authority

July 1997

RSACi featured at first White House Internet Summit

July 1997

IBM joins as Corporate Partner of RSACi and integrates the system within proxy server product

September 1997

Inaugural meeting of International Working Group on Content Rating, Bagshot, UK. Plans to establish an internationally acceptable rating system and to establish the Internet Content Rating Association proposed

December 1997

Second White House Internet Summit: pros & cons of RSACi system hotly debated

December 1997

Over 50,000 sites rated with RSACi


June 1998

Netscape announces integration of RSACi into NetWatch within Navigator

September 1998

RSACi awarded Carl Bertelsmann Prize in presence of German President in Gutersloh, Germany.

December 1998

International consortium led by AOL Europe meets with RSAC to discuss folding RSAC into the proposed Internet Content Rating Association.


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March 1999

Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA) incorporated as non-profit organization in London, UK.

April 1999

RSAC signs transfer of assets to ICRA

May 1999

ICRA officially launched.

July 1999

Transfer of RSAC to ICRA complete, Jens Waltermann of Bertelsmann Foundation named as Chairman of the Board; Stephen Balkam named ICRA Executive Director.

August 1999

Over 120,000 sites rated with RSACi.


February 2000

New European Office Opened - Brighton, UK.

June 2000

European Union launches Internet Action Plan promoting safer use of the Internet - ICRASafe Project.

October 2000

ONdigital becomes the first broadcaster to join ICRA.

October 2000

Sheridan Scott of Bell Canada Bell appointed chair of ICRA.

December 2000

ICRA launches new self-rating platform.


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