Three Major ISPs To Block Child Porn
June 11, 2008 | by Christopher Nickson
Three of the largest ISPs — Verizon, Sprint and Time Warner Cable — will block access to websites and bulletin boards with child porn images and give $1m to help remove child sex sites.
Verizon, Sprint and Time Warner Cable have all agreed to block access to bulletin boards and websites that carry images of child sex abuse, as well as coming together to give $1 million to help remove child sex sites, according to the New York Times.
The move comes as a turnaround, since previously ISPs had claimed they couldn’t be responsible for what customers did online. And it’s all down to Andrew Cuomo, New York State Attorney General, who arranged the deal with the ISPs.
"You can't help but look at this material and not be disturbed," he was quoted as saying in the New York Times. "To say 'graphic' and 'egregious' doesn't capture it."
Quite how willing the ISPs were might be a matter of conjecture, however. The agreement followed an eight-month investigation by agents from the New York State Attorney General’s office who posed as subscribers, then complained the ISPs were allowing child porn images, despite having customer service agreement that agreed to discourage the activity. After that Cuomo’s office reportedly threatened to take the ISPs to court over charges of fraud and deceptive business practices. Cuomo’s office is currently in negotiations with other ISPs.
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Ian Bell on Jun 11th, 2008 at 11:26 AM:
Kevin,
I agree whole-heartedly with you. I have fought with a lot of people over the governing of the internet. I understand that once we let the government/companies block one thing, there is nothing stopping them from blocking another and that can suck for a lot of people. But in my opinion, we need a group that watches out for things like this. The internet is going to have to be governed at some point; there is simply too many bad things out there, from instructions on making bombs, to buying illegal firearms and child porn. There is nothing stopping kids from viewing this content.
Now granted, we don't want to turn into China and block EVERYTHING, but I think it's safe to say that here in the U.S. we can do a better job at distinguishing free-speech from things like child porn and put a system into place that works.
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Kevin on Jun 11th, 2008 at 8:44 AM:
At first I was concerned about privacy issues and the freedom of the internet... but it didn't take me long to realize that this was much better for the long haul.
Information is too easily accessible these days and free access to child pornography is just an enabler to those who are already sick. Child abuse/sexual abuse are sicknesses that have been proven to be untreatable. These sickos can't help themselves, no matter how sick they know they are and admittedly will do it again and again. Keeping this material away from the masses (especially those who are sick) will just be best for everyone.
Kudos to Verizon, Time Warner and Sprint for taking the moral standpoint on the issue and doing something about it. That's one reason for me to stick with Verizon and I shall.