FITUG e.V.
Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft
FITUG e.V.Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft |
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http://www.iwf.org.uk/news/archive/detail_news.epl?INFO_ID=144
PRESS RELEASE 13th November 2002
13.11.2002
News Release
THE NET TIGHTENS FOR ONLINE PAEDOPHILES
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has announced today a tough stance against 51 newsgroups that regularly carry child abuse images and a further 25 newsgroups with names that appear to advertise or advocate paedophilia. These new policies have been worked out in close consultation with, and with the full support of IWF's industry funders and are intended to apply to all UK Internet Service- Providers.
The IWF is recommending to all UK Internet Service Providers that these newsgroups ought to be detached from their newsfeeds and servers. These lists are strictly confidential but will be disclosed to service providers upon application.
This information has been gathered following extensive research and consultation, underpinned by an independent statistician, impartial legal opinion and advice from the Crown Prosecution Service to the Home Office.
Home Office Minister Hilary Benn MP says, “The Government fully supports the work of the Internet Watch Foundation in tackling the growing problem of child pornography and other illegal content posted on the Internet. Child protection is of the highest priority to the Government and we welcome the new stance that the IWF has taken on newsgroups. There is no justification for any newsgroup containing or claiming to contain child pornography."
Jessica Hendrie-Liano, Chair of Council for the Internet Services Providers' Association said, "ISPA and our members share IWF's concern over the use of the Internet to carry this illegal material and we will continue to support the IWF's valuable activities in combating the advertising of child abuse online."
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Carole Howlett and the Association of Chief Police Officers spokeswoman on child abuse issues on the Internet said “We are pleased to work in partnership with the IWF to help dislocate distribution networks for child abuse images and the production of material which sexually exploits children”.
IWF CEO Peter Robbins says, “We are determined to do everything we can to help prevent the dissemination of child abuse images on the Internet. This initiative shows a firm commitment by all our partners in the Internet industry, from Government, criminal justice agencies, and all other supporters, to close down opportunities for paedophiles to share child abuse images and information”
Funding for the IWF is based solely on voluntary subscriptions by Internet players and mobile operators including the London Internet Exchange (LINX), the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA), BTopenworld, Thus, AOL (UK), Cable & Wireless, NTL, Easynet, Yahoo! UK & Ireland, Energis, Microsoft MSN, Freeserve, Brightview, Tiscali, O2, Network for Online Commerce, and 3. Website sponsored by Kan International www.kaninternational.com
For further information contact: Peter Robbins CEO – IWF 01223 237700 Roger Darlington Chair – IWF on 020 8904 7522
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