§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what investigations his Department has made into the practicality of the regulation of material available on the Internet; [41819]
(2) what representations he has received about the possible regulation of material available on the Internet. [41817]
§ Mr. KirkhopeMy right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of letters expressing concern about the availability of obscene and pornographic material on the Internet. The interdepartmental group on obscenity is examining this issue and hopes shortly to be discussing it with Internet service providers.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is responsible for more general questions relating to the regulation of the Internet and other computer networks.
Industry is responsible for more general questions relating to the regulation of the Internet and other computer networks.
§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers are available to the police568W to take action against users who make material available on the Internet which would be illegal in any other medium. [41818]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe provisions of the criminal law apply to material disseminated on the Internet in the same way as to material disseminated on other media. It is, for example, an offence to publish obscene material or child pornography on the Internet. We have recently taken action in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to ensure that our controls keep pace with advances in technology. This has included clarification of the law to assist the police in gaining access to computer bulletin boards.