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Homepage > Public Area > Blocking

IWF Facilitation of the Blocking Initiative
IWF's core function is as an internet 'Hotline' service for the public to report their inadvertent exposure to potentially illegal online content within our remit and as the national 'notice and take-down' body for that content.

Despite success in almost eradicating such content from being hosted on UK networks indecent images of children are still available around the world so the commitment by our members to voluntarily prevent the accidental download of such content by working to deploy a list on their services has been welcomed in many quarters. This industry-led initiative has gathered pace since 2004 and more of our members have chosen to make use of this service, namely, internet service providers, mobile operators, search providers and filtering companies. National and international law enforcement agencies and Hotlines who are members of INHOPE can also have access to the list.

As a result of work by our analysts, potentially illegal child sexual abuse content URLs are regularly added to our list. This list is dynamic and comprehensive: updated twice a day. The Protection of Children Act 1978 as amended in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, makes it an offence to take, make, permit to be taken, distribute, show, possess with intent to distribute, and advertise indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children under the age of 18. The ‘making’ of such images includes downloading, that is, making a copy of an indecent image of a child on a computer so in the UK accessing such content online is a serious criminal offence.

The list typically contains less than 1000 live child sexual abuse URLs at any one time. This initiative is designed to reduce the occasions when innocent internet users might be exposed to traumatic and unlawful images, however it may also help to:

* Diminish the re-victimisation of children by restricting opportunities to view their sexual abuse.
* Disrupt the accessibility and supply of content to those who may seek out such images.
* Disrupt the dissemination of images to UK internet users for commercial gain by criminal organisations.

Unfortunately, the blocking mechanism cannot put an end to offenders abusing children or distributing images of child sexual abuse on the internet. This initiative is one element in a wider effort to combat the making and distribution of images of child sexual abuse via the internet and the activities of determined criminals who exploit internet-based technologies and services to this end. This effort involves a partnership between law enforcement, children’s services, major children’s charities, the judicial system and the UK internet industry.

Blocking is designed to protect people from inadvertent access to potentially illegal images of child sexual abuse. No known technology is capable of effectively denying determined criminals who are actively seeking such material: only removal of the content at source can achieve that goal.

Our systems and processes in compiling this list are periodically inspected and validated by eminent independent professionals and found to be consistent with best practice. There is a procedure whereby the website owner of any blocked URL has the right of appeal. The URLs are assessed according to UK law, a process reinforced by reciprocal police training with each image being categorised in line with criteria set out by the UK Sentencing Guidelines Council. Details of every URL with child sexual abuse content are passed with accompanying intelligence to our Hotline and law enforcement partners around the world so they can investigate the hosting of such content in their countries under their own legislation.

Blocking facilitated by the use of our list applies only to URLs related to child sexual abuse content on publicly available websites. We have no role in the investigation of suspects therefore tackling the distribution of child sexual abuse content through other channels such as peer-to-peer is the role of our police partners. IWF has no plans to extend the type of content included on the list.
Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State responsible for policing, crime and security
“I have been impressed by the efforts of the UK internet industry in raising the bar in online safety and I am particularly encouraged by indications that their commitment to voluntarily block their customers' access to sexually abusive images of children online is already leading to less content reported to the 'Hotline' being confirmed as child sexual abuse. Around 95 per cent of those with residential broadband connections in the UK are now protected in this way and I commend this and other positive steps taken by many companies, in conjunction with the Internet Watch Foundation, to better protect internet users, and internet services, from abuse."

Blocking FAQs
We recognise that we have responsibility to provide as much information as possible regarding our facilitation of the industry-led blocking initiative therefore we hope these FAQs can address any queries associated with our role in the process.

From this page you can also access information about:
IWF
IWF Status
IWF Governance
IWF Accountability
Self-regulation

Page Created: Wed, October 26th, 2005
Page Modified: Tue, April 21st, 2009

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