Skip to main content

UK Prime Minister David Cameron pushes for filter safeguards against internet porn

UK Prime Minister David Cameron pushes for filter safeguards against internet porn

Share this story

Padlock Macbook
Padlock Macbook

After several months of consultation with internet service providers and other experts, the UK government will soon propose new measures it hopes will shield children from online pornography. Prime Minister David Cameron has led efforts to develop these new safeguards, a filter-based system that will query internet users as to whether or not they have children in the house. A positive reply will result in parents being led through the installation of these "anti-porn" filters, with a further subset of questions determining how strictly they will be implemented. According to The Telegraph, protection mechanisms include timed access to explicit content and the ability to block visits to social networks like Facebook where it's difficult to monitor everything underage youths are exposed to.

ISPs will also bear some responsibility, as they'll be urged to take age validation steps to ensure any person setting these controls is in fact over 18. Reports also indicate that service providers are being asked to make existing customers aware of the new measures rather than just applying the rules to new signups. Attempting to skirt around the new regulations could result in legislative repercussions. Set to be unveiled later this month, the government's proposals fall short of disabling porn access by default for all internet subscribers — an idea that drew no shortage of censorship concerns. Nonetheless we expect concerns to persist, particularly since mobile carriers have been found to be applying such parental controls too liberally.