Internet Watch Foundation

Simon Persoff, Director of Regulatory Affairs at Wanadoo UK plc. has been elected Chair of the IWF Funding Council which is made up of representatives from funding member companies.  

 

At Wanadoo, Simon is responsible for legal and regulatory policy and compliance, competition law, communications law, information law, economic regulation, public policy and political affairs.

 

Simon joined Wanadoo early in 2002, having previously worked in private practice and consultancy.  During his time at Wanadoo, he has led the teams responsible for the only successful Competition Act appeal against telecoms regulator Oftel and for the only two Statements of Objections issued by Ofcom to BT in relation to broadband margin squeeze.

 

Apart from being the IWF’s Funding Council Chair, Simon is also a director of the UK Competitive Telecommunications Association and represents Wanadoo on the Home Secretary’s Taskforce for Child Protection on the Internet.

 

The role of the IWF Funding Council is to consider policy issues affecting the IWF in order to brief their three Board representatives with members’ views; it provides funds and ensures renewal of funds for the operation of the IWF and it advises on and approves the members’ Code of Practice.

 

Where Funding members host and can take down online content they agree to abide by the Code of Practice which sets out what funding member companies can expect from the IWF and what their obligations are with regards to advice from the IWF about online content.

 

Funding Council determines its own constitution and terms of membership and elects three Board members to represent industry views on the main IWF Board.

 

The Funding Council constitution describes how the Council conducts its business. 

 

On important policy matters and other significant decisions the voice of Funding Council members is ensured by special voting procedures detailed in the main constitution.

 

The Funding Council meets quarterly to discuss IWF & member business.

 

Wanadoo has been members of the IWF for four years and Simon has been its representative for the last three years.

 

Peter Robbins, CEO, IWF welcomed Simon as the new Chair of Funding Council: “The IWF is very pleased to announce Simon as the new Funding Council Chair. Simon brings skills and expertise to a very unique role. His election as Chair demonstrates the trust and confidence that his fellow members have in him to rise to the many new challenges constantly coming on stream. We wish him every success."

Eric Abensur, CEO, Wanadoo UK, said: “Wanadoo is delighted to strengthen its association with the IWF. It does a critically important job and represents a vital partnership between the internet industry, law enforcement and the government.” He added: “Wanadoo wholeheartedly supports the aims and objectives of the IWF and is committed to helping to combat internet abuse and illegal internet content.  Simon’s appointment gives Wanadoo a further opportunity to exercise this commitment and to drive the campaign forward. I am confident that Simon, representing Wanadoo, will perform a valuable role for the IWF.”

 

Wanadoo, a brand from France Telecom, is Europe's No. 1 broadband provider. Wanadoo has, at 31 March 2005, more than 9.7 million total customers in Europe – 5.9 million on broadband - and is the No.1 ISP in France, and a leading ISP in the UK, in Spain and in the Netherlands.

 

 

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