Internet Watch Foundation

22 October 2008

 

TelecityGroup, the pan-European provider of network independent data centres and value added services, has become a member of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).

 

The IWF was founded by the internet industry in 1996 to provide a reporting service to facilitate the removal of potentially illegal online content – including child sexual abuse, criminally obscene and incitement to racial hatred - from the internet. It works in partnership with the police, government, industry and public to combat illegal content and influence initiatives developed to combat online abuse; this dialogue goes beyond the UK and Europe to ensure greater awareness of global issues, trends and responsibilities. As a result, since 2003, less than 1% of online child sexual abuse content has been traced to UK hosts, down from 18% in 1997.

 

Peter Robbins OBE, QPM, Chief Executive, IWF, said: “We are delighted to welcome TelecityGroup to IWF membership. As the public, political and international profile of the IWF increases, we are committed to widening our partnership with the online sector in a united fight against child sexual abuse content. This successful self-regulatory approach enables the UK to lead the way in demonstrating an inclusive, dynamic and voluntary approach to safer internet in the UK.”

 

Geoff Donson, Group Security Manager at TelecityGroup, said: “TelecityGroup feels very strongly that the industry must work together to provide a hostile environment for illegal online content. The work undertaken by the IWF is extremely valuable, and the Code of Practice and reporting system offers a good support network for the industry and users. We are pleased to be offering our support.”

 

The IWF provides a ‘Hotline’ reporting system which helps the online industry combat abuse of its services. A ‘notice and take-down’ initiative alerts organisations to potentially illegal content hosted on their systems or sites; the police are then made aware so they can investigate those responsible for the content. This partnership approach is increasingly recognised internationally, and the IWF’s expertise and experience is shared with a global audience to raise awareness of the issues of illegal online content.

 

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About the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
The IWF is the only recognised organisation in the UK operating an internet ‘Hotline’ for the public and IT professionals to report their inadvertent exposure to potentially illegal content online. Our aim is to minimise the availability of potentially illegal content, specifically: child sexual abuse images hosted anywhere in the world; criminally obscene content hosted in the UK; incitement to racial hatred content hosted in the UK.
 
We are a self-regulatory body, funded by the EU and the wider online industry. This includes internet service providers (ISPs) mobile operators and manufacturers, content service providers, telecommunications and filtering companies, search providers and the financial sector as well as blue-chip and other organisations who support us for corporate social responsibility reasons.

Please note that "child pornography", "child porn" or "kiddie porn" are not acceptable terms. The use of such language acts to legitimise images which are not pornography, rather, they are permanent records of children being sexually abused and as such should be referred to as child sexual abuse images.
 
For more information visit www.iwf.org.uk

 

About TelecityGroup PLC
TelecityGroup is the leading pan-European provider of network independent data centres offering a range of flexible, scalable data centre and value added services. TelecityGroup specialises in the design, build, and management of highly connected and secure environments in which customers can house their technical, web and internet infrastructure. Each of its data centres acts a connectivity and content hub facilitating the storage, sharing and distribution of data, content and media. Headquartered in London, TelecityGroup operates 20 network independent data centres across seven European countries. The data centres are located in prime positions for commerce and connectivity, including Amsterdam, Dublin, Frankfurt, London, Manchester, Milan, Paris and Stockholm.

 

Telecity Group plc, the parent company of TelecityGroup, is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: TCY)
www.TelecityGroup.com

 

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Dan Warren or Louisa Benckendorff
Nelson Bostock Communications +44 (0)20 7229 4400                        
Dan.warren / louisa.benckendorff @nelsonbostock.com