By the end of 2014 at the latest, British Internet providers will have to filter pornographic offers from the Internet. This was announced by Prime Minister David Cameron in a speech to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) on Monday.
Accordingly, all Internet users will be contacted by their providers and will have to choose whether they want to maintain access to online pornography. Customers setting up a new broadband account or switching providers will have to actively disable the filters already by the end of the year.
In addition, Cameron unveiled a series of other measures to reduce online access to pornography, with a particular focus on images of child sexual abuse. Amongst others, the possession of “extreme pornography”, which includes scenes of simulated rape, will be outlawed.
The Prime Minister’s speech was designed to answer critics accusing him of talking tough, but failing to take action against online pornography. The tabloid Daily Mail in particular had put pressure on the government to step up its efforts to protect children and minors.
