Vaizey calls for new curbs on Internet porn (From Oxford Mail)

Vaizey calls for new curbs on Internet porn

By Andrew Ffrench »

CHILDREN surfing the Internet need better protection to stop them stumbling across pornography, an Oxfordshire MP says.

Ed Vaizey

Culture Secretary and Wantage MP Ed Vaizey is calling for internet service providers (ISPs) to tighten controls on website pornography to help keep children safer.

Last night his calls were echoed by a youth worker in Oxford.

Ministers want broadband providers to consider automatically blocking all sex sites, with individuals being required to choose to receive them, rather than opting out and using parental controls on their computers.

The action follows moves by most British Internet providers to prevent people inadvertently viewing child pornography websites.

It is understood that ministers now want to see adult pornography controlled with similar technology, with sites blocked unless people specifically request access to them.

Mr Vaizey is expected to meet Internet providers over the next few weeks to discuss making changes.

The move is designed to protect children from being exposed to pornography on the Internet.

Mr Vaizey said: “This is a very serious matter.

“I think it is very important that it is the ISPs that come up with solutions to protect children.

“I’m hoping they will get their act together so that we don’t have to legislate, but we are keeping an eye on the situation and we will have a new communications bill in the next couple of years.”

A parliamentary debate heard that 60 per cent of nine- to 19-year-olds had discovered pornography online.

Adrian Hicks, manager of the IT Hub at Rose Hill Children’s Centre in The Oval, Oxford, backed the move. He said: “I have a 15-year-old son and I do worry about what images he will stumble across when he is using the Internet.

“What Mr Vaizey is proposing sounds quite sensible and I’m sure parents will appreciate the efforts he is making”