Cameron warns internet giants over child porn

Internet giants including Google could face tough new laws unless they take further steps to tackle graphic images of child abuse online, David Cameron has warned.

Ahead of a major speech today, in which he will call for search engines to agree to block results for a “blacklist” of terms, Cameron told the firms “if we don’t get what we need we’ll have to look at legislation”.

The British prime minister said each of the images was a “crime scene” and companies needed to act to prevent people viewing them. He told BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show: “I’m concerned as a politician and as a parent about this issue, and I think all of us have been a bit guilty of saying: well it’s the internet, it’s lawless, there’s nothing you can do about it. And that’s wrong. I mean just because it’s the internet doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be laws and rules, and also responsible behaviour.”