Slow Response To Internet Watchdog

An organisation set up to try to combat the problem of illegal material on the Internet has received only 34 calls in its first full month of operation. Of those only half were referring to material which was actually illegal.

David Kerr, Chief Executive of the Internet Watch Foundation, said that 6 of the calls, all involving child pornography, had been reported to the police. None had originated in the UK. Mr Kerr now wants to start a rating system for Internet pages and Newsgroups. This system would act like a film censor’s certificate giving a guide to the contents of the page.

Internet Watch, formally Safety Net, was set up in September last year with the backing of the Metropolitan police vice squad and Ian Taylor MP, the Minister for Science and Technology.

Internet Watch: 01223 236077