Sir, – I join Ulric Kenny (December 30th) in welcoming the decision by UPC to introduce network-level content filtering. It is telling to compare the actions of the UK government with our Government over this important issue.
In the UK, the prime minister recognised the damage being done to children through access to inappropriate material, and the difficulties that parents have in attempting to install content filters in home computers and wireless devices. He demanded that the internet service providers introduce network-level content filtering, and they obliged. Consequently, in the UK, people have a choice – they can receive the normal, pornography-saturated internet, or they can receive an internet where most of the pornography is removed.
I have lobbied politicians here to take the same approach. However, there is a refusal at Government level to do so, with vague talk of tackling this problem with increased levels of education on this issue.
More education on the problem is necessary, but the response has to be multifaceted, and demanding that all internet service providers offer their customers the choice of network-level filtering should be a key part of any response.
It is irresponsible and untenable that our Government insists that it will not demand this of our service providers. All the research on this issue has proven that there are many serious consequences for young people who view age-inappropriate material.
The sooner we follow the UK lead on this issue the better. – Yours, etc,
SEAMUS LENNON,
Salthill,
Galway.