THUS IWF Web Filter

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FAQs

Why have you implemented the web site blocking?
Why does THUS not already have this web blocking in place?
Does this system block all illegal content?
What about offensive or racist sites – will they be blocked too?
How will your blocking system work?
How many sites will be blocked?
What if someone comes across a site that should be blocked?
Demon has always been an advocate of free choice and has been against censorship in the past – why are you blocking sites now?
Won’t you run the risk of blocking access to legitimate sites or incur the wrath of legitimate users?
Will your blocking system keep a record of users who have tried to reach a blocked website?

Why have you implemented the web site blocking?

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has launched a service to its members in which it provides a list of URLs of websites hosted outside the UK which are known to contain indecent images of children. ISPs and filtering companies can use the list to implement systems that prevent Internet users gaining access to these illegal websites.

THUS takes the issue of paedophile activity on the internet extremely seriously and, as a founding member of the Internet Watch Foundation, works with the Home Office, law enforcement agencies and industry counterparts to minimise risk in this area. THUS has decided to implement a blocking system based on the IWF list as a service to all its Demon customers, to protect them from accidentally viewing illegal child abuse imagery, and as part of its commitment to stamping out child abuse on the internet.

Why does THUS not already have this web blocking in place?

THUS attaches great importance to the reliability and quality of the Internet access services provided to its customers. We did not wish to launch a blocking system until we could be sure that our solution would block the web sites in the Internet Watch Foundation’s database without compromising network performance or blocking other types of content.

Does this system block all illegal content?

No, this system will only block sites contained in the Internet Watch Foundation’s list, which is limited to indecent images of children.

What about offensive or racist sites – will they be blocked too?

No, the Internet Watch Foundations list is limited to indecent images of children.

How will your blocking system work?

It will compare customer website page requests with the IWF list. Customers who try to access content on the Internet Watch Foundation’s list will not be able to reach the content and will see an error message instead.

How many sites will be blocked?

The Internet Watch Foundation’s list will typically contain between 800 and 1200 URLs at any one time.

What if someone comes across a site that should be blocked?

If an individual comes across a site that they believe contains indecent images of children, they should notify the Internet Watch Foundation. Details can be found at: http://www.iwf.org.uk/reporting.htm .

Demon has always been an advocate of free choice and has been against censorship in the past – why are you blocking sites now?

We have always removed articles containing indecent images of children from our servers when we have been notified of their existence by the Internet Watch Foundation. This is the next logical step in the process to help us abolish these illegal images from the internet.

Won’t you run the risk of blocking access to legitimate sites or incur the wrath of legitimate users?

We will be using the list provided by the Internet Watch Foundation which will identify those sites to be blocked. This list is rigorously checked and regularly updated. If a website owner feels that their site is wrongly blocked, the Internet Watch Foundation has an appeals process to request removal from the list. More information about the IWF list can be found at: http://www.iwf.org.uk/public/page.148.htm .

Will your blocking system keep a record of users who have tried to reach a blocked website?

We do not keep any records of users’ attempts to visit blocked sites.