Internet Watch Foundation

MPs and Peers joined representatives from the Police, Internet and Mobile industries and the charity and financial sectors to receive the IWF’s 2005 Annual Report on its work in combating potentially illegal content online. As a result of its self-regulatory, partnership approach, only 0.4 per cent of child abuse content on the internet is now hosted in the UK.

 

Peter Robbins, CEO, IWF said: “2005 has been a significant year for the IWF. We achieved charitable status in December and said goodbye to our Chair of six years, Roger Darlington. 2006 is our 10th anniversary and we are looking forward to a busy and successful time with our new Chair, Amanda Jordan OBE, at the helm. The exceptional attendance at our Parliamentary reception and the intense media attention we received bode well for the future.”

 

The 2005 Annual Report highlights the success of the UK model, with record reports from the public and record numbers of illegal sites being removed.

 

The House of Commons reception was kindly hosted by Cambridgeshire-based MP, Andrew Lansley CBE, Shadow Secretary of State for Health.

 

Mr Lansley said “Having visited the IWF’s premises in Oakington, I was very impressed by the staff’s hard work, professionalism and dedication. It is a pleasure to welcome so many people to Parliament to congratulate the IWF on their magnificent achievements in 2005 in working to protect internet users in the UK and children across the world.”

 

Alun Michael MP, Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, said "A reduction from 18% to 0.4% in the UK in less than a decade, and the removal of such material, shows the IWF is a leader in its field. The IWF’s influence is expanding and is an exemplary success story in self-regulation."

 

The Minister pointed to the challenges facing the organisation in the future with the “frightening speed of technology innovation bringing both advantages and disadvantages and the global nature of child pornography.”

 

Peter Robbins, CEO, IWF continued with a reminder that "Every time a website with an indecent image of a child is accessed, this is tantamount to the continuous abuse of the child victim. It is due to the UK public’s complete intolerance of child abuse material that we have one of the best records in the world at combating these images."

 

He also paid tribute to the generous support of the IWF’s members and sponsors and praised their speedy and effective work in taking down potentially illegal content and protecting UK internet users from exposure to this shocking online content.

 

Nearly 100 people joined the IWF at the House of Commons to hear of the achievements in the previous year and to learn of the challenges it faces in the year to come.