To print this page, select "Print" from the File menu of your browser salon.com > Technology May 20, 1999 URL: http://www.salon.com/tech/log/1999/05/20/burgerking Care for some Web with your Whopper? Burger King's latest combo meal includes Net access -- but the Web will be sliced and diced through filtering software. - - - - - - - - - - - - By Janelle Brown Has fast food entered the digital age? Well, Burger King opened a state-of-the-art burger joint in Hartford, Conn., on Thursday that will serve not only its trademark Whoppers, Croissan'wiches and Tubby Custard, but Net access as well. However, fast-food junkies shouldn't think of canceling their ISP just yet. A whopping 15 minutes of "filtered" Net surfing will be allowed with the purchase of a Burger King combo meal. Not only will the in-store browser preclude surfing for "adult content" -- sorry, no porn to peruse over your chicken tenders -- but you won't even be able to send and receive e-mail. The 60-seat Hartford store is starting off with two Internet terminals, but says it may add as many as 18 more. A company spokesman said that, for now, there are no plans to add Net access to the 10,300 Burger Kings dotting the globe. But rest assured, Burger King has come up with other snazzy technologies that might make up for the inadequacies of its Net access. The store will boast a Webcam, so that average Joes on the Net can remotely observe customers munching their meals. And to top it all off, the store will install a fancy high-tech surveillance system so that Burger King officials can invisibly ensure that no illicit activity is taking place. "Have it your way?" Seems doubtful.