Internet Watch Foundation

Content filter specialists SmoothWall have recently strengthened their suite of web security solutions in a new affiliation with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).

 

As Associate Members, SmoothWall are showing a clear commitment to the industry-led IWF, and its government-authorised initiatives to combat the availability of child sexual abuse images and other criminally obscene content on the internet.

 

Having pioneered the Dynamic Content Analysis technology that underpins their Guardian web filters, SmoothWall are now augmenting their array of web weaponry with the IWF’s CAIC (Child Abuse Images and Content) database. This dynamic list includes all child sexual abuse sites known to the IWF’s ‘Hotline’ and is updated twice daily.

 

Peter Robbins, CEO IWF, said: “We are very pleased to welcome SmoothWall as associate members. Industry support is crucial to our work and the success we’ve had is testament to such partnerships. We look forward to working with SmoothWall in the future as we maintain our achievements in the UK as well as our commitment to sharing expertise and best practice around the world.”

 

As an independent foundation, the IWF relies on the support of its members to fund its activities and its approach has been warmly welcomed by internet security professionals. George Lungley, SmoothWall Managing Director, said: “SmoothWall is proud to be working with the IWF. Their database adds an extra level of security to our web filters and I respect their recognition of illegal internet content as a global issue, in need of international dialogue.”

 

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The SmoothWall suite of versatile security solutions currently safeguards over a million SME, education and enterprise users worldwide. With pioneering Dynamic Content Analysis technology, SmoothWall’s Guardian web filters enable managers to effectively monitor, control and block in an advanced and affordable way.

 

Since its inception in 1996, the IWF has achieved international recognition in the fight against illegal online content, reducing the amount of child sexual abuse images hosted in the UK from 18% to less than 1%. Funded by the EU and UK internet industry, it is the only UK organisation to operate a ‘Hotline’ and combat the availability of illegal internet content in partnership with police, governments, industry and the public.

 

The IWF specifically aims to minimise content that is criminally obscene, contains images of child sexual abuse or incites racial hatred. The IWF operates the internet ‘Hotline’ to assist ISPs by alerting them to illegal content through a ‘notice and take down’ service.

 

Please note that the terms "child pornography" or "child porn" can act 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 abuse images.