Eircom urged to block child porn sites
In the coming weeks, BT will introduce a specially-developed filter system, known as Cleanfeed, which will intercept users’ attempts to access known child pornography sites.
Users will get a “website not found” error message on their screens when they try to load a blocked site.
It is thought to be the first project of its kind by a leading internet service provider (ISP), and was spurred by the campaigning of British children’s charities.
On Monday, Eircom, this country’s leading ISP, declined to comment on the issue until it had seen what exactly was involved in the BT project.
But speaking yesterday, children’s charity Barnardos said the company should not delay in introducing similar technology here.
“If the technology is there, we should be using it, and I don’t think we should delay,” said Seán Redmond, a regional manager with Barnardos.
“The fact that they’ve developed it over in the UK now ... if it is transportable and transposable, we should be looking to expedite that in Ireland as well. I don’t think there is any excuse not to do it.”
Mr Redmond said BT and other ISPs who introduce the technology should go “one step further” and collate and share with the authorities information “about people who were habitually trying to access child pornography sites.”
BT, however, has already said it will not see details of people trying to reach such sites. The filters will work by blocking access to specific site addresses, and will not monitor individuals’ internet habits.
The company said that, although it had no plans to market the technology commercially, it was talking with other ISPs interested in buying it.
Mr Redmond said cost should not be a consideration for Eircom or other ISPs. “Cost is not a factor here. The whole issue around child pornography is horrendous,” he said.
The Irish ISP industry is self-regulated, meaning companies would not be obliged to introduce the technology.
ISPs have already shown a willingness to combat the issue, teaming up to co-fund with the EU a hotline which people can rung if they come across a site hosting child porn. The number is 1890 610 710.
