No silver bullet for online safety

IRISH Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide infrastructure that allows users to access the unimaginably vast and diverse content that companies and people anywhere in the world choose to make available on the internet.

As commercial companies, it is not appropriate that ISPs should decide what content the citizens of Ireland should or should not be able to find on the internet. ISPs are obliged under European law to freely provide access to all content unless it is illegal. Adult pornography, in general, is not illegal in this country. Those choosing to view this material are doing so by going to these sites of their own volition. ISPs are not like TV stations. We do not decide what content will be presented to our customers.

If the Government, reflecting the democratic wishes of the citizens, decide that certain legal content should not be accessible by default on the internet, then the decisions on which specific websites are “banned by default” must be made by a publicly appointed body which is governed by law, has transparent processes, and is answerable to the Government. It is inappropriate that this responsibility should be divested to private commercial companies whose business and skills are to provide internet infrastructure.