David Cameron’s initiative to help parents stop their children viewing sexually explicit websites was mired in confusion yesterday after internet providers accused Downing Street of giving misleading briefings.
The top four broadband providers – BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media – have agreed to give new subscribers the opportunity to block access to pornography at the point of subscription.
The measures were due to be announced on Tuesday by the Department of Education, to coincide with a meeting between David Cameron and anti-pornography campaigners.
However, Downing Street officials inaccurately briefed journalists on Monday that all customers would be required to “opt in” to access pornography.
“This has ambushed a rational and productive dialogue between government and industry with what appears to be politicking that, wilfully or otherwise, misunderstands both what is technically possible and what is in the best interests of protecting families online,” an industry source said.
He complained that some families may have got the wrong impression that their children would be protected by default. Those without children had meanwhile been misled that their internet access would be censored.
“It’s not about having to get permission from your ISP to access adult websites,” another ISP source explained.
For existing broadband subscribers, the new measures will make no difference to their internet access unless they take action.
“All you’re going to get is a letter or email from your ISP informing you that these controls are there if you want them,” the second source said.
The inaccurate and early release of the news by Downing Street prompted speculation among ISPs that it was designed to appeal to female voters, following Mr Cameron's recent apology for the way he had treated women MPs in the Commons, and to divert attention from the controversy surrounding Liam Fox and Adam Werritty.
“All of a sudden this morning the news channels were concentrating on online pornography,” said the second industry source.
Each of the four ISPs participating in the scheme will use different technology to implement restrictions if requested. As well as pornography, parents will be able to block access to gambling and other adult websites.