Parents can protect children from receiving inappropriate emails and instant messages by registering e-mail addresses with the Protect MI Child Registry, a program of the Michigan Public Service Commission. The registry has been in operation for one year, and more than 100,000 e-mail addresses have been registered so far.

Registration is free of charge and can be entered on the Protect MI Child Web site: michigan.gov/protectmichild.

Registered contact points are protected by law from receiving messages that promote products or services that are legally prohibited for children, such as pornography, tobacco, gambling, alcohol, and illegal drugs. Senders of prohibited messages are required to remove registered addresses from their electronic mailing lists within 30 days.

If a registered address receives a prohibited message, a complaint may be filed on the Web site. The Michigan Attorney General's office is responsible for enforcement and investigation of complaints.