Internet Watch Foundation

 

Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he will take to
(a) close down race hate websites and
(b) protect named journalists who are being targeted by these sites.

 

Fiona Mactaggart: Websites of this kind are objectionable and I can understand why journalists and other persons identified on them might feel concern.  Whilst we are keeping the legislative position under review, existing laws already provide a level of protection.... The internet service provider industry itself is sometimes able and willing to refuse to carry objectionable material on websites. In the UK, most service providers have acceptable use policies, under which they reserve the right to remove a customer's material, or refuse to carry it, not only if it is illegal but also in certain other circumstances, which can include where material causes concern or needless anxiety to others or publishes details of individuals without their consent. The UK's Internet Watch Foundation encourages service providers to refuse to handle sites which violate their acceptable use policies. The great majority of UK service providers operate responsibly. The government has also discussed with other governments how we can co-operate to tackle this problem, given that it raises issues of cross-national jurisdiction. It is important that those with concerns should make them known to the police and to the Internet Watch Foundation.

 

Source: Hansard 21.4.4