IWF Facilitation of the Blocking Initiative
IWF's core function is as the UK internet 'Hotline' service for the public to report their inadvertent exposure to potentially illegal online content, within our remit, and as the national 'notice and take-down' body for that content.
Despite success in almost eradicating such content from being hosted on UK networks, indecent images of children are still available around the world, so the commitment by our members to voluntarily prevent the accidental download of such content by working to deploy a list on their services has been welcomed in many quarters. This industry-led initiative has gathered pace since 2004 and more of our members have chosen to make use of this service, namely, internet service providers, mobile operators, search providers and filtering companies. National and international law enforcement agencies and associated Hotlines who are members of INHOPE can also have access to the list.
As a result of work by our analysts, potentially illegal child sexual abuse content URLs are regularly added to our unique list. This list is dynamic and comprehensive: updated twice a day. The Protection of Children Act 1978 as amended in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, makes it an offence to take, make, permit to be taken, distribute, show, possess with intent to distribute, and advertise indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children under the age of 18. The ‘making’ of such images includes downloading, that is, making a copy of a child sexual abuse image on a computer, so, in the UK, accessing such content online is a serious criminal offence.
This list typically contains between 800 and 1200 live child sexual abuse URLs at any one time. As URLs are precise web pages the risk of over blocking or collateral damage is minimised.
As a result of this initiative it is possible to:
• Reduce the occasions when innocent internet users might be exposed to traumatic and unlawful images.
• Diminish the re-victimisation of children by restricting opportunities to view their sexual abuse
• Disrupt the accessibility and supply of such content to those who may seek out such images.
• Disrupt the dissemination of images to UK internet users for commercial gain by criminal organisations.
Unfortunately, the blocking mechanism cannot put an end to offenders abusing children or distributing images of child sexual abuse on the internet but at least this initiative contributes to an overall solution.
Our systems and processes in compiling this list have been independently inspected and validated by eminent professionals and found to be consistent with best practice. There is a procedure whereby the website owner of any blocked URL has the right of appeal. The URLs are assessed according to UK law, a process reinforced by reciprocal police training with each image being categorised in line with criteria set out by the UK Sentencing Advisory Council. Details of every URL with child sexual abuse content are passed with accompanying intelligence to our partners at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre as well as our Hotline associates around the world.
Blocking facilitated by the use of our list applies only to website content. We have no role or remit for tackling the distribution of child sexual abuse content through other channels such as peer-to-peer or instant messaging.
This link to our frequently asked questions (FAQs) provides further information.
Page Created: Wed, October 26th, 2005
Page Modified: Thu, January 8th, 2009
