Covenant Eyes
Encyclopedia
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.
: “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. Originally located in Corunna, Michigan
, DeHaas marketed Covenant Eyes internationally 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. 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.”
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.
(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.” Web sites, including the ads they display, are assigned one of six age-based ratings:
—such as a parent, spouse, friend, or counselor. Later, subscribers had the option to have the report sent every week. Web addresses were “scored” for pornographic or other sexual content, and highlighted on these reports. 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.
In September 2004, Covenant Eyes Version 3.0 expanded its reporting to non-http protocols, including newsgroups, file-sharing, and FTP, as well as reporting on the System Restore
function, 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.
In June 2006, after three years of research, Covenant Eyes released its accountability service for Macintosh computers.
In April 2007, Covenant Eyes moved its global headquarters from Corunna to an adjacent city, Owosso, Michigan
. At the time, Covenant Eyes employed 34 associates, and their software was used by about 40,000 subscribers in 67 countries. A year later, they had grown to 46 associates, and 44,000 subscribers in 142 countries.
In May 2009, Covenant Eyes released its Internet accountability service for cell phones and PDA
s using Windows Mobile 6. 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
. 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
.
In September 2010, Covenant Eyes announced its first educational e-book
, Parenting the Internet Generation.
On their 10th anniversary as a company, Covenant Eyes announced the creation of a college scholarship program.
Accountability software
Accountability software, or Internet accountability software, is a type of computer software that provides detailed reports that account for one's actions on the Internet.- Concept :...
and filtering software that monitors the sexual content of web pages and other metrics. Users designate an accountability partner
Accountability partner
An accountability partner is a person who coaches another person in terms of helping the other person keep a commitment. The term is a neologism and has gained relatively wide use since the 1990’s. The term is often used by Christians where the accountability partner helps a person adhere to a...
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.
Product philosophy
The inspiration behind the name “Covenant Eyes” comes from Job 31:1 in the BibleBible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
: “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. Originally located in Corunna, Michigan
Corunna, Michigan
Corunna is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,381. It is the county seat of Shiawassee County. The City of Corunna is located within Caledonia Charter Township, although it is an independent political entity.Michigan Governor Andrew Parsons was...
, DeHaas marketed Covenant Eyes internationally 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. Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family is an American evangelical Christian tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1977 by psychologist James Dobson, and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations that rose to prominence in the 1980s...
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.”
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.
Rating 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. This was trademarked as the Age-Based Content Rating SystemAge-Based Content Rating System
The Age-Based Content Rating System is a proprietary classification of web addresses based on age appropriate content stored in the metadata of websites...
(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.” Web sites, including the ads they display, are assigned one of six age-based ratings:
- 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” or “accountability log,” to be e-mailed every two or four weeks to the software user’s accountability partnerAccountability partner
An accountability partner is a person who coaches another person in terms of helping the other person keep a commitment. The term is a neologism and has gained relatively wide use since the 1990’s. The term is often used by Christians where the accountability partner helps a person adhere to a...
—such as a parent, spouse, friend, or counselor. Later, subscribers had the option to have the report sent every week. Web addresses were “scored” for pornographic or other sexual content, and highlighted on these reports. This scoring algorithm
Algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning...
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
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, or Myspace.com.
In September 2004, Covenant Eyes Version 3.0 expanded its reporting to non-http protocols, including newsgroups, file-sharing, and FTP, as well as reporting on the System Restore
System Restore
System Restore is a component of Microsoft's Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, but not Windows 2000, operating systems that allows for the rolling back of system files, registry keys, installed programs, etc., to a previous state in the event of system malfunction or failure.The...
function, 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.
In June 2006, after three years of research, Covenant Eyes released its accountability service for Macintosh computers.
In April 2007, Covenant Eyes moved its global headquarters from Corunna to an adjacent city, Owosso, Michigan
Owosso, Michigan
Owosso is a city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,713 at the 2000 census. The city is located on the eastern side of Owosso Township, but is politically independent...
. At the time, Covenant Eyes employed 34 associates, and their software was used by about 40,000 subscribers in 67 countries. A year later, they had grown to 46 associates, and 44,000 subscribers in 142 countries.
In May 2009, Covenant Eyes released its Internet accountability service for cell phones and PDA
PDA
A PDA is most commonly a Personal digital assistant, also known as a Personal data assistant, a mobile electronic device.PDA may also refer to:In science, medicine and technology:...
s using Windows Mobile 6. This service has not been updated for Windows Mobile 7.
In December 2009, Covenant Eyes released a browser
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
application for the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and iPod touch
IPod touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
. 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
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
.
In September 2010, Covenant Eyes announced its first educational e-book
E-book
An electronic book is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital...
, Parenting the Internet Generation.
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.On their 10th anniversary as a company, Covenant Eyes announced the creation of a college scholarship program.
Patents
There are several pending U.S. patent applications for Covenant Eyes software, including:- US application 2005108383 “Internet Use Monitoring System and Method”
- US application 2007061869 “Access of Internet use for a selected user”
Awards and recognitions
- Best Christian Places to Work - Awarded in 2007
- Michigan’s 50 Companies to Watch - Awarded in 2010
- Inc.5000 – Awarded in 2010
- Jerry and Patty Kirk Award – Awarded in 2011
Recommendations
- Albert Mohler – President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Campus Crusade for ChristCampus Crusade for ChristCampus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
- Clergy Recovery Network
- Daniel Lohrmann – Chief Technology Officer, State of Michigan
- Don Carson - Research Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
- Donna Rice Hughes - CEO of Enough is Enough
- Eric and Leslie Ludy – Christian authors and speakers
- Mark HallMark Hall (musician)Mark Hall, Jr. is the lead vocalist for the Georgia-based Christian rock group Casting Crowns, a seven-member group made up of all youth pastors.-Early childhood:...
– lead singer of the Christian musical group, Casting CrownsCasting CrownsCasting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band. Casting Crowns was started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida as part of a youth group. He now serves as a lead vocalist... - Mike McManus - Nationally syndicated religion/ethics writer
- Nate Larkin - Author, speaker
- Ron Hunter, Jr. – CEO of Randall House PublicationsRandall House PublicationsRandall House Publications is an American publisher of Christian literature and church resources. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, it and produces about forty pieces of Sunday School curriculum each quarter...
- Review of the software