Offences Against Children: Internet

James Brokenshire
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to require internet service providers to block access to foreign websites identified as containing images of child abuse.

Mr. Alan Campbell
The Government are very clear that the use of blocking to prevent access to these images is something that internet service providers should do, and are pleased with the support from providers, which has led to 98.6 per cent. of UK consumer broadband lines being covered by blocking of sites identified by the Internet Watch Foundation as containing such illegal images. The Government recognise the work of the internet industry in reaching this figure.

It remains our hope that the target of 100 per cent. of consumer-facing ISPs operating a blocking list will be achieved on a voluntary basis and we keep progress on the 100 per cent. target under review.

The IWF publishes a list of companies that take the list. It has plans for a self-certification system so that the public will be able to identify which companies are operating an effective blocking policy.