Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has told British Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to come up with a system to block pornographic content and implement an ‘opt-in’ system for internet users wishing to access pornography.
Currently, internet users have to implement their own measures to filter out pornographic content; they have to actively ‘opt-out’. The new system would reverse this and be based on a system which has already been successful in blocking access to paedophile sites.
The measures have been proposed to assure parents that their children are automatically protected from viewing graphic content.
The Culture Secretary has given the ISPs (including Talk Talk, BT, O2, Virgin, Orange and BSkyB) until the autumn to develop the system, with Jeremy Hunt warning that if they fail to do so laws will be passed to make them comply.
The announcement follows a campaign by Claire Perry MP, who has been pushing for changes that would protect children and has stated that she believes ISPs should ‘share the responsibility’.
SaferMedia, a charity that works to protect the vulnerable from the effects of harmful media, has supported Claire Perry in her campaign and highlighted research which shows that viewing pornography leads to an acceptance of violence as well as unhealthy notions of sex and relationships.
Current research has found that as many as one in three under-tens has viewed pornography on the internet and four out of five children aged 14 to 16 admit to regularly accessing explicit content on their home computers.
Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, commented:
“This news will be welcomed by all who are shocked with the ease with which pornography on the internet can be accessed by young children and are concerned about the damaging effect that this has on them in an increasingly sexualised society.
“I commend Jeremy Hunt in instructing the ISPs to do what they can to protect children.
“Let’s hope the ISPs recognise their responsibility as gatekeepers and are able to come up with a system that works and provides some protection.”
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