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Industry and Government work together to tackle internet terror

HOME OFFICE News Release (196/2008) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 18 November 2008

State-of-the art filtering technology will now enable parents, schools, businesses and web users in the UK to further restrict access to websites which advocate or promote terrorism, the Home Secretary announced today.

Following joint work between the internet industry and Government, web users now have the opportunity to download software allowing them to restrict access to websites which may encourage the endorsement or participation in acts of terrorism.

Jacqui Smith announced the initiative in order that parents and guardians of vulnerable young people will be able to further enhance internet safety for their home computers. The software can be downloaded voluntarily and is available to parents, schools, colleges and businesses.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

"Stopping people becoming or supporting terrorists is the major long-term challenge we face. I want to give parents and guardians the power to decide what content is downloaded on their computers at home, which is why we have worked hard to develop these tools with various software companies.

"Building on the work we have done around child protection on the Internet, this software is a significant step in making the Internet a safer place for vulnerable people and these tools will also offer our schools, colleges and businesses further safety nets.

"It is reassuring that filtering software companies are taking the threat of on-line terrorism seriously and have developed the appropriate tools for all internet users. I would like to thank them for their hard work".

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. This software launch follows a speech the Home Secretary made on the 17 January 2008 where she outlined Government engagement with the Internet industry around radicalisation and violent extremism on the net. The Government has since been working with various companies that provide filtering and parental control software to ensure that their products provide a high level of protection against material that promotes or encourages terrorism.

2. Many Internet Service Providers offer filtering products as part of their internet access package, and broadband subscriptions in the UK usually come with free filtering solutions.

In order to download the software, check whether a free filtering product is available through your broadband package or from your Internet Service Provider.

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