Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and MPs respond to growing public concern – well done!

On 20 June, Claire Perry MP, Safermedia and several other groups attended a meeting in Parliament of ISPA, the Internet Service Providers Association. Your support is making a big difference, and we were able to put some good points to the meeting. Despite a diverse range of views, there was general and encouraging agreement that more would indeed be done to block internet pornography.

The ISPs are coming under ever more pressure. Seventy MPs are now supporting Claire and have just set up a Parliamentary Inquiry into Online Child Protection in September and October. This is another major step forward.

Next Stage of the Campaign

We are continuing to press for ISP-level filters plus a default OFF setting for porn, rather than device-level filters (see our templates for more detail). However the ISPs are still reluctant to go this far, and when they will act is far from clear. Claire has emphasized that we must continue to rally more MPs to maintain the momentum of this groundswell of public opinion. In David Cameron’s statement to Parliament on the NewsCorp scandal, he said this was a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity to try and get media regulation right.’

ACTION

• So, if you have not already done so, please write to both your MP and ISP.
• If you have already sent those letters, our thanks, and please now:
• Send David Cameron a copy of the letter to your MP (by filling in the MPs letter again, writing COPY across the top and posting it 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA or emailing it at https://email.number10.gov.uk/Contact.aspx).
• Please forward this email to your contacts.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Please use our 2 template letters for your MP and ISP, shown below and downloadable at:

http://www.safermedia.org.uk/2011internetfiltercampaign.htm

You will find all the addresses you need on these templates.
If you prefer, you can use the template simply as a guide and write a letter in your own words.
(NB: The details about an opt-IN system being required are vital.)

2. Can you also make hard copies of the templates and distribute them to clubs, churches, your workplace, friends and family too? Numbers matter.

3. Please spread this information as widely as possible to all your contacts. (NB: If you are an organisation, it is best to pass on the template letter, approved by Claire Perry’s office, as it is.)

• We have a new website! Check it out for updates and more information:

http://www.safermedia.org.uk/welcome.htm

Thank you and best wishes for the summer break,
Miranda, Pippa, Tushar and the SafermediaTeam

For MPs
Safermedia Letter/Email Campaign to MPs to protect children from internet pornography (July 2011 onwards)

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Find the name of your MP here http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/ (or call 020 7219 4272) and add it to the top of the letter/email below. 2. Add your signature, name and address to the end of the letter/email. 3. Cut these instructions off the top of the letter and then POST it asap. 4. If possible copy your letter to: Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Dept for Olympics, Culture, Media & Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH and Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA 5. You may wish to follow up by phone and/or email. 6. Follow the campaign at www.safermedia.org.uk or www.claireperry.org.uk and please spread the word to your contacts.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 1AA Date:

Dear

URGENT NEED FOR ‘OPT-IN’ ISP NETWORK-LEVEL PORNOGRAPHY FILTERS

As one of your constituents, I would like to draw your attention to this absolutely vital issue. I am glad that many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other stakeholders have attended round table meetings with the Culture Minister, Ed Vaizey MP, in the House of Commons regarding the introduction of ISP-level filters to block internet pornography. I believe this would be the best way for the industry to support parents and make it far harder for children to access pornography, either deliberately or inadvertently. This is particularly urgent in view of the fact that technological convergence means it is now possible for internet pornography to be easily viewed on television.

I understand research clearly indicates that viewing pornography leads to an acceptance of violent and unhealthy notions of sex and relationships, where the objectification of women and aggressive behaviour are the norm. Some children (under 18s) are developing problems linked with pornography.

This is why I strongly support the initiative, led by Claire Perry MP, to switch the default setting for internet pornography into our homes to ‘off’ at network level, so it’s an opt-in system. Please note:

• This is not censorship, as an age verification system would allow over 18s to opt in and have access to pornography restored.
• Only if there is a default setting of pornography OFF at ISP level, and an ‘opt-IN’ system, will we have the safest level of protection that is so urgently needed. (NB: ‘Opt-OUT’ would still put the onus on fallible users to take action to have pornography blocked. TalkTalk have launched what they are calling an ‘opt-in’ system but this is not the same, as their default setting for pornography is still ON, and it is parents who are required to set up controls).
• Claire Perry’s system would be family-friendly and likely to attract more customers to those ISPs offering this service.

If you haven’t already done so, I do urge you to add your name to the 70 MPs who have already signed up to support this important initiative by contacting Claire Perry MP via email: Claire.perry.mp@parliament.uk or phone: 020 7219 7050. Claire will then update you on the campaign and provide a briefing paper. Please would you also write to the Culture Minister, Ed Vaizey MP, outlining your support for the system described above, attaching my correspondence. It is so important to protect our children and young people. Please let me know what you plan to do.

Yours sincerely,

Signature and Name:

My address:

For ISPs (Internet Service Providers)
Safermedia Letter/Email Campaign to ISPs to protect children from internet pornography (July 2011 onwards)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Find the address of your ISP here and add it to the top of the letter below. (If it is not shown, pls. add it yourself):

 BT: Ian Livingstone, CEO, BT plc, 81 Newgate St., London. EC1A 7AG
E: tracy.stobbs@bt.com (PA to CEO) Tel: 020 7356 5000

 Virgin: Neil Berkett, CEO, Virgin Media, 160 Portland St., London. W1W 5QA. E: neil.berkett@virginmedia.co.uk
(Matt Rogerson asked to be copied in: matt.rogerson@virginmedia.co.uk) Tel: 020 7299 5708

 O2: Ronan Dunne, CEO, 260 Bath Road, Slough, Berks. SL1 4DX. E: ronan.dunne@o2.com Tel: 01132 722000

 Sky: Jeremy Darroch, CEO, British Sky Broadcasting, Unit 9,
Grant Way,
Isleworth,
Middx. TW7 5QD
E: Jeremy.darroch@bskyb.com Tel: 08442 411111
 Orange: Tom Alexander, CEO, Everything Everywhere Ltd, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, Herts. AL10 9BW
E: Tomalexander@orange.co.uk; Tom.alexander@everythingeverywhere.com Tel: 08703 768888
(NB: from 31 Aug 2011, new CEO Olafswantee@orange.co.uk; Olaf.swantee@everythingeverywhere.com

 TalkTalk: Dido Harding, CEO, TalkTalk, 11 Evesham St., London. W11 4AR
E: hardingd@talktalkplc.com Tel: 08700 878038 options 2, then 3

2. Add CEO’s name to the start of the letter and add your signature, name, address and date to the end of letter
3. Cut these instructions off the top of the letter and then POST it asap
4. You may wish to follow up by phone &/or email 5. Copy letter to your MP, Hse of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
6. Follow the Campaign at www.safermedia.org.uk * Spread the word to family and friends!
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Address of ISP:

Date:
Dear

URGENT NEED FOR AN ‘OPT IN’ ISP-LEVEL PORNOGRAPHY FILTER

As one of your customers, I would like to draw your attention to this absolutely vital issue. I am glad that you and many other ISPs have attended meetings recently with the Culture Minister, Ed Vaizey MP, regarding the introduction of ISP-level filters to block internet pornography. This is particularly urgent in view of the fact that technological convergence means it is now possible for internet pornography to be easily viewed on mainstream television.

I understand that a growing body of research clearly indicates that viewing pornography leads to an acceptance of violent and unhealthy notions of sex and relationships. It objectifies women and normalises aggressive sexual behaviour. Some children (under 18s) are developing problems linked with pornography.

This is why I strongly support the initiative, suggested by Claire Perry MP, to switch the default setting for internet pornography into our homes to ‘OFF’, with an ‘opt-IN’ system. Please note:

• This is not censorship, as an age-verification system would still allow over 18s to ‘opt in’ if they wanted access to pornography.
• The large ISPs currently favour device-level filters with an ‘opt OUT’ system. However this is not enough, as it still puts the onus of responsibility on parents.
• To their credit, TalkTalk have recently launched their network-level Home Safe filter, which enables parents to block unsuitable content. However this is not the type of opt-in system suggested by Claire Perry, as the default setting for pornography is still ON, and it is still fallible parents who are required to set up controls.
• Claire Perry’s initiative would be family-friendly and likely to attract more customers.

I urge you to apply this ‘opt-in’ network level filter to all your own services and for all your customers without delay. I am so concerned about the protection of our children that if you do not do this, I may be forced to change my broadband supplier to an ISP that does implement the default OFF setting with an ‘opt-in’ facility. Please let me know what you plan to do.

Yours sincerely,

Signature and Name:

My address:

PO Box 1046, Bromley, BR1 9PF
E: office@safermedia.org.uk
T: 020 8467 6452
www.safermedia.org.uk

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