UK government working with ISPs on porn opt-in

In its latest attempts to curb online pornography, the UK government has worked with four of the country's biggest ISPs to develop an opt-in program. Under this measure, those who wish to access sexually explicit websites will have to let those ISPs know, The Guardian explained. The official announcement from Prime Minister David Cameron takes place Tuesday during the tenth meeting with the Mothers' Union.

The alleged aim is to protect children from sexualised imagery. The Mothers' Union's chief executive, Reg Bailey, worked with the Department of Education to produce a study of the commercialization and sexualization of children. The resulting report resulted in a number of proposals, with the opt-in idea being one of them.

Other restrictions are likely to be introduced, including those on aggressive advertising campaigns and some types of images on billboards. A website, Parentport, will be created for parents where they can point out TV shows, ads, products or services that they believe are inappropriate for kids.

It will be run by the Advertising Standards Authority, BBC Trust, British Board of Film Classification, Ofcom, Press Complaints Commission, Video Standards Council and Pan European Game Information, with specific complaints going to the respective branch.

Those with BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin for Internet access won't be able to view pornographic websites unless they opt in.

Cameron stopped just short of committing his government to legislation, though he did give it a strong backing in June. Critics have warned that even the voluntary system may be equivalent to censorship and that it imposes a particular interpretation of morality on the public.

By Electronista Staff