Ford to give parents a key for censorship

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co. said parents in the future could have the option of censoring 16 radio stations that feature adult content.

Ford said it would extend the capabilities of its "MyKey" system, which lets the car discriminate between different drivers depending on which key is used to start the car. Parents can already use the system to control the car's top speed and mute the sound system until seat belts are buckled. The new enhancement could allow them to block Howard Stern's radio show, Hip Hop Nation and other programs channeled through Sirius Satellite Radio, USA Today reported Wednesday.

The system will find its way into Ford cars by late 2011, the company said.

Russ Rader, a spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, applauded the approach. "The more that teens understand the car is not a party on wheels, the better," he said.

Ford manager for safety planning and strategy Andy Sarkisian said, "There's a lot of mature content programming out there, and it could be somewhat of a distraction for less mature ears."