Porn blocking: what the big four ISPs are actually doing

[Simon]

There has been a lot of confusion and mis-reporting over how Britain's four biggest ISPs will implement blocks on adult content.

Here is what the four ISPs signed up to the new voluntary code of practice - BT, Virgin Media, Sky and TalkTalk - are actually doing to comply with the proposals.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/broadband/370456/porn-blocking-what-the-big-four-isps-are-actually-doing

[Polchraine]

I will be writing to my ISP to specifically state that I do not want ANY filtering software or blocking on my connection and they do not have my authority to interfere with any traffic that I request.

My work requires me to access various sites at different time, they can be:  violent, sport, adult, hard core, wildlife, comedy, children's entertainment &c &c and I need to be sure that there is no "filtering/blocking" anywhere.   Yes some is objectionable and I have seen some horrible and disgusting video/images, but I just treat then as images.

Put the responsibility on parents - NOT the ISPs is any way what so ever.

Or maybe they should look at the number of "adult channels" on terrestrial Freeview!    If you have some time to spare, have a look at that!   I know people who monitor various satellite feeds and they have bank of monitors - one for each channel and they have over 20 porn channels running continually in te evenings and overnight.

[Tacitus]

I wonder when the pressure will start for ALL ISPs to implement this sort of stuff.  If some, or all, of the smaller ISPs refuse to implement it, will there then be some sort of blacklist by the IWF or Mumsnet warning people of the *dangers* of using these ISPs?

Pretty much all computers have parental controls built in.  Whatever happened to parental responsibility, or are parents too stupid to use them.

[pctech]

While in theory I agree with measures to prevent the sickest in society such as pedophiles accessing materials (it would be preferable if it allowed them to be tracked and arrested) the problem with filters is they can be used in circumstances to supress anything authorities consider subversive as China demonstrates.

[esh]

If it is optional client side software as I understand it, then this is not a problem, and in fact, is simply a service that has always been there just now shoved in front of people's faces.

The days when you had to be a responsible user to figure out how to do anything with a computer are gone. For the biggest ISPs there will be increasing pressure to try and protect the lowest common denominator. When it becomes enforced, non-optional, server side (ie. via a transparent proxy) then it is too much -- just like with enforced QoS/traffic management.

[Tacitus]

If it is optional client side software as I understand it, then this is not a problem, and in fact, is simply a service that has always been there just now shoved in front of people's faces.

If it is opt out, then will the fact that you are then presumed to access porn be notified to the relevant authorities?  Given the fuss over CRB checks, where hearsay evidence could be taken into account - at least in the full version - then if you are a (otherwise blameless) school teacher, the effects could be serious.

These things have a habit of going far beyond the original good intentions....

[D-Dan]

I wonder how the "opt out" band will get on if they continue with client side filtering when they encounter someone running Linux, given that the client side software employed is, by and large, Windows software and, to a lesser degree, Mac software.

[esh]

If it is opt out, then will the fact that you are then presumed to access porn be notified to the relevant authorities?

Very true, I was specifically talking about the opt-in scenario, but I didn't clarify.

[Lona]

My work requires me to access various sites at different time, they can be:    hard core.

That's your story.

[Niall]

I'm glad IDnet aren't one of the big four. I haven't got a girlfriend

[Polchraine]

That's your story.

Honest!       

Having seen most of your recent jokes, we must visist the same websites!

[Simon]

I couldn't possibly post most of the jokes on one of the sites I visit!   

[Polchraine]

I couldn't possibly post most of the jokes on one of the sites I visit!   

I agree,  CeeBeeBees   is probably a little young for most of us!

[Simon]

[Polchraine]

QED !    quod erat demonstrandum

[Rik]