§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with his international counterparts about the possibility of joint action being taken to regulate the content of material disseminated via the Internet. [5474]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorThe nature of the Internet means that measures to control the content of disseminated material are difficult to devise, although normal national laws apply just as much to the Internet as to other media. Before any action to regulate the Internet specifically could be contemplated, either national or international, it would be vital to have a clear view of precisely what measures would be effective. My Department, the Home Office and others are monitoring the development of the Internet, and assessing the feasibility of various measures, including self-regulation. We also compare notes with other Governments as appropriate.