ISPA BACKS GOVERNMENT REVIEW ON ILLEGAL AND HARMFUL CONTENT

3 March, 1998

Representatives from ISPA are showing their support for a Government review of illegal and harmful content on the Internet today. At a press conference at the Department of Trade and Industry, Laurence Blackall, Chairman of the Internet Services Providers Association, ISPA UK, said “the Internet provides people with endless opportunities for communication and obtaining useful information. We have devoted much effort towards minimising negative use of the Internet and promoting its positive aspects.” He continued to speak about the work ISPA had done to promote safe use of the Internet.

· ISPA UK funds and otherwise supports the Internet Watch Foundation.

· ISPA members agree to remove harmful or illegal material found on their servers once they receive notification of the existence of such material from the IWF.

· ISPA’s code of conduct expressly promotes the use of client filtering and rating systems.

· ISPA is involved in INCORE a European wide project to develop rating and filtering software for Internet content.

Mr Blackall added that many ISPA members sent new dial up customers filtering software along with information on management of access for minors. There were many premium services or family packages offered by ISPs. He explained that these allowed users choice, in terms of the material they or their dependants received from the Internet. He added that some ISPs also filtered news groups at source.

Notes for Editors

1. The UK Internet Services Providers Association (ISPA UK) was set up in 1995 as a trade association to represent UK companies in the Internet sector. ISPA web-page: www.ispa.org.uk

2. For other additional details please contact Nicholas Lansman on 0171 976 0679 or better still email: secretariat@ispa.org.uk