Banking Industry in partnership with IWF
Today APACS, the Children’s Charities’ Coalition for Internet Safety (CHIS) and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) announced plans to combine their efforts in a bid to crack down on online child abuse images.
John Carr, Internet Adviser to NCH, speaking for the Children’s Charities’ Coalition, said: “With the help and support of the UK’s banking industry we feel we can make a real contribution to the worldwide fight against the illegal use of the web to distribute child pornographic images. This statement marks the starting point of what should be a formidable partnership.”
The Chief Executive of the Internet Watch Foundation, Peter Robbins, added his support: “We are very pleased to work in partnership with the banking industry and the Children’s Charities’ Coalition to minimise the availability of abusive images of children on the Internet. By working together we can make a difference.”
Chris Pearson, APACS Chief Executive, comments: “We welcome the chance to work with the CHIS and the IWF on this important issue. The banking industry has always been active in stopping any use of its products or services for illegal purposes. Since this problem first emerged we have been very successful in our efforts to ensure merchants offering card payments are not involved in such illegal activities. This new partnership will help us all strengthen the force to fight such crime.”
Contacts:
Sandra Quinn, APACS Corporate Communications on 020 7711 6234/ 07768 044656
Helen Crow, Children’s Charities Coalition for Internet Safety on 020 7704 1706/ 07802 806679
Peter Robbins, Internet Watch Foundation on 01223 237700
Attached: “Illegal Transactions: Card Industry Statement”
Note to Editors
The Children’s Charities’ Coalition for Internet Safety is comprised of:
- Barnardos www.barnardos.org.uk
ChildLine www.childline.org.uk
The Children’s Society www.the-childrens-society.org.uk
NCB - National Children’s Bureau www.ncb.org.uk
NCH www.nch.org.uk (formerly known as National Children’s Homes)
NCVCCO - National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations www.ncvcco.org.uk
NSPCC - National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children www.nspcc.org.uk
- The Internet Watch Foundation works in partnership with ISPs, Telcos, Mobile Operators, Software Providers, Police and Government, to minimise the availability of illegal Internet content particularly child abuse images. www.iwf.org.uk
- APACS (the Association for Payment Clearing Services) is the UK trade association for payments. It is also the banking industry voice on payments issues such as plastic cards, card fraud, cheques and electronic payments. The card industry’s statement has been coordinated by APACS’ Public Affairs Group, a sub-committee of the Card Payments Group (CPG), the leading industry association of organisations participating in UK card payments.
Illegal Transactions
Card Industry Statement
- The UK banking industry absolutely condemns any use of its card payment products/ services for illegal purposes and takes measures to prevent such activity.
- Banks unequivocally comply with the law and continue to ensure full co-operation with law enforcement agencies.
- Acquiring banks undertake a number of security checks prior to recruiting a merchant and, where they believe that the merchant is involved in illegal activity, then they will not sign up the merchant.
- If a merchant is found to be offering illegal material for purchase by payment card, the acquiring bank will terminate its agreement with the merchant and report the merchant directly to the police.
- Illegal transactions are not normally apparent to card-issuing banks. However, banks will alert law enforcement agencies if individuals are found to be using their cards for illegal purchases.
- The banking industry is aware that fraudulently obtained card details are often used to make illegal purchases over the Internet and continues to introduce new initiatives to prevent this.
- Despite much of this activity originating outside of the UK, UK banks, as members of the international card schemes, continue to push for elimination of the purchase of illegal material on a global basis. Illegal transactions are of course, forbidden by international card scheme operating regulations.
Created: Fri, March 14th, 2003 | Last Modified: Sat, October 9th, 2004
