Broadband firms urged to block sex websites. Government wants BT, Virgin and other internet providers to put access to adult pornography on 'opt-in' basis
Martin Argles for the Guardian
Internet service providers are to be asked by the government to tighten up on website pornography.
Ministers believe broadband providers should consider automatically blocking sex sites, individuals being required to "opt in" to receive them, rather than "opt out" and use the available computer parental controls.
Ed Vaizey, the communications minister, is to meet internet providers, including BT, Virgin Media and TalkTalk, "in the near future" to discuss changing the way pornography enters private homes, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills confirmed.
The move is designed to protect children from being exposed to pornography on the net.
The initiative comes in advance of the proposed convergence of television and the internet.
The government would prefer providers to arrive at a solution rather than be pressed into it by legislation.
"This is a very serious matter. I think it is very important that it's the ISPs that some up with solutions to protect children," Vaizey told the Sunday Times. "I'm hoping they will get their acts together so that we don't have to legislate, but we are keeping an eye on the situation and we will have a new communications bill in the next couple of years."
The action follows the success of moves by most British internet providers to prevent people inadvertently viewing child pornography websites. Now ministers want to see adult pornography controlled with similar technology, with sites blocked unless people specifically request access to them.
A survey by Psychologies magazine found that one in three children aged 10 in Britain had seen pornography on the net.
Martin Argles for the Guardian
Internet service providers are to be asked by the government to tighten up on website pornography.
Ministers believe broadband providers should consider automatically blocking sex sites, individuals being required to "opt in" to receive them, rather than "opt out" and use the available computer parental controls.
Ed Vaizey, the communications minister, is to meet internet providers, including BT, Virgin Media and TalkTalk, "in the near future" to discuss changing the way pornography enters private homes, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills confirmed.
The move is designed to protect children from being exposed to pornography on the net.
The initiative comes in advance of the proposed convergence of television and the internet.
The government would prefer providers to arrive at a solution rather than be pressed into it by legislation.
"This is a very serious matter. I think it is very important that it's the ISPs that some up with solutions to protect children," Vaizey told the Sunday Times. "I'm hoping they will get their acts together so that we don't have to legislate, but we are keeping an eye on the situation and we will have a new communications bill in the next couple of years."
The action follows the success of moves by most British internet providers to prevent people inadvertently viewing child pornography websites. Now ministers want to see adult pornography controlled with similar technology, with sites blocked unless people specifically request access to them.
A survey by Psychologies magazine found that one in three children aged 10 in Britain had seen pornography on the net.
