Internet Watch Foundation stamps out obscene content

Co-operation between the IT industry, charities and law enforcement agencies is stamping out internet hosting of child abuse images and racist content in the UK.

Less than one per cent of illegal images online are now hosted in the UK, because of concerted self-regulation by the UK online industry, according to a report from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).

The watchdog, which is funded by companies including AOL, BT and Cable & Wireless, says investigations by digital payment firms and ISPs are making the internet a safer place.

‘In less than a decade, the amount of potentially illegal content hosted in the UK has declined from 18 per cent to less than one per cent,’ said Alun Michael, minister for industry and the regions.

‘The IWF, law enforcement authorities and the industry have achieved more in a year without legislation than could have been achieved in five years through legislation alone.’

The minister hopes the UK’s success will give encouragement to other countries such as the US and Russia, where the hosting of indecent content is rife.

‘There were a lot of people saying that it wouldn’t work in this country, but it has been shown that it does,’ said Michael.