EU rules threaten to overturn filter that blocks online porn
DAVID CAMERON is in a fresh battle with the European Union as new rules threaten to make an internet filter on pornographic material illegal.
A government drive to protect children by forcing internet users to opt-in to view sexually explicit or violent material could be declared unlawful under EU rules.
The “net neutrality” code means that all internet traffic should be treated equally by EU member states, preventing governments from delaying or blocking access to sites.
The rules propose that parental controls should be allowed only if the “enduser” has given consent and that he or she has the “possibility to withdraw this consent at any time”.
This would threaten the default blocks used by mobile telephone and public Wi-Fi networks to protect children from coming across hardcore sexual images and other harmful material.
Mr Cameron launched an opt-in system for pornography in 2013, meaning users had to tell their internet providers that they wanted access to adult material. The filter also blocks websites advocating self-harm and anorexia.
After pressure from Downing Street, this year Sky, BT and Talk Talk imposed automatic filters unless customers asked them to be turned off.
Parents are far more likely to impose controls on material when presented with a choice, the industry says.
Britain plans to beat the EU ban by proposing legislation in the House of Commons, putting the self-regulatory system on to a statutory footing. That would comply with EU rules that dictate that internet firms must abide by national law.
“We are now exploring options and will be providing an update once a course of action has been agreed,” the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said. “We take great pride in our world-leading approach to child online safety and would never accept a position which diminished our ability to protect children online.”
Other categories subject to content filtering include violence and weapons, dating, drugs, tobacco and alcohol, gambling, file-sharing, gaming websites and social networking. Parents can also apply time-specific content blocking, for example by stopping social media during homework time.
The Prime Minister had told internet companies that unless they took action against pornography that is “corroding childhood”, he would legislate for it.
“In the darkest corners of the internet, there are things going on that are a direct danger to our children, and that must be stamped out,” Mr Cameron said, unveiling the measures in 2013.
“I’m not making this speech because I want to moralise or scaremonger, but because I feel profoundly as a politician, and as a father, that the time for action has come.”
‘We take pride in our approach. We would never accept a position which diminished our ability to protect children’