§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to stop the Internet in the United Kingdom being used by paedophiles. [64286]
§ Mrs. RocheThe law applies on-line as it does off-line with the result that each person is responsible for their own acts and omissions.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) was established following discussions between the DTI, Home Office, the Police and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to provide a voluntary industrial mechanism to supplement law enforcement. The IWF operates a hotline to which Internet users can report material which they believe may be illegal. This information is then passed on to the police and the ISP who is hosting the site. When the material originates in the UK, the ISP should then remove it from 704W its server. The Police will take action to follow up any criminal offence. If UK service providers fail to act on IWF reports and the material is found to be illegal, they are liable for prosecution as accessories to the crime.
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ask Internet service providers to control kids' chat lines to prevent paedophile messages being placed on them. [64287]
§ Mrs. RocheThe Department works with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and law enforcement agencies to combat paedophile action on the internet. One result of this was the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) which was established following discussions between the DTI, Home Office, the Police and ISPs. One of the aims of the IWF is to hinder the use of the Internet to transmit illegal material, particularly child pornography. As part of their work to combat illegal material appearing on the Internet, they have processed complaints received about Chat lines.