Highlights of 2008
January
IWF was pleased to welcome Naomi Cohen and Stephen Locke as Non-industry Board members in January 2008. They joined Professor Ian Walden, current Acting Chair; Emma Ascroft, Industry Vice-Chair; Tink Palmer, current Acting Non-industry Vice-Chair; Sir Rodney Brooke CBE, Non-industry Board member; Mark Gracey, Industry Board member; Hamish MacLeod, Industry Board member and Dr Suzy Walton, Non-industry Board member. For further details of IWF Trustees, click here.
IWF was pleased to welcome Naomi Cohen and Stephen Locke as Non-industry Board members in January 2008. They joined Professor Ian Walden, current Acting Chair; Emma Ascroft, Industry Vice-Chair; Tink Palmer, current Acting Non-industry Vice-Chair; Sir Rodney Brooke CBE, Non-industry Board member; Mark Gracey, Industry Board member; Hamish MacLeod, Industry Board member and Dr Suzy Walton, Non-industry Board member. For further details of IWF Trustees, click here.
IWF Chief Executive, Peter Robbins QPM, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours list for services to children and families.
The IWF provided evidence for a UK prosecution which resulted in the offender being sentenced to 33 months imprisonment in January 2008 for distributing indecent images of children, by posting them on a website.
The IWF also attended a number of meetings and exhibitions, including the Byron Review Interim Conference and the 2008 BETT Show.
February
IWF joined organisations from 55 countries in celebrating Safer Internet Day 2008. The event was organised by European Schoolnet, coordinator of Insafe, the European safer internet network. Click here for more information.
IWF joined organisations from 55 countries in celebrating Safer Internet Day 2008. The event was organised by European Schoolnet, coordinator of Insafe, the European safer internet network. Click here for more information.
IWF also responded to the House of Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s review into harmful content on the internet and in video games and was asked to give oral evidence.
We continually work to share experience, expertise and good practice within the UK and internationally, and as part of this commitment we hosted a visit from the Polish Hotline, NIFC Hotline Polska, amongst others. The events we attended included the Becta’s National Safeguarding Event and ISPA's Annual Parliamentary Advisory Forum.
March
The 2008 IWF ISPA award for most significant contribution to combating illegal content on the internet was awarded to Richard Swetenham, Head of the European Commission eContent and Safer Internet Unit for his long-standing commitment to safer internet across the EU, particularly his role as driving force behind the establishment of an international network of Hotlines combating online child sexual abuse content and many other successful EC Safer Internet Programmes.
The 2008 IWF ISPA award for most significant contribution to combating illegal content on the internet was awarded to Richard Swetenham, Head of the European Commission eContent and Safer Internet Unit for his long-standing commitment to safer internet across the EU, particularly his role as driving force behind the establishment of an international network of Hotlines combating online child sexual abuse content and many other successful EC Safer Internet Programmes. IWF Chief Executive, Peter Robbins OBE, QPM, was awarded the 2008 ISPA Internet Hero award.
IWF was invited to speak at events, including the ‘Young People in the Internet and Mobile Age: Safe and Empowered!’ conference organised by the Egyptian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.
April
IWF’s 2007 Annual Report was successfully launched on 17 April 2008 and resulted in over 300 pieces of TV, radio, newspaper and online coverage, both nationally and internationally, highlighting our key trends and recommendations.
IWF’s 2007 Annual Report was successfully launched on 17 April 2008 and resulted in over 300 pieces of TV, radio, newspaper and online coverage, both nationally and internationally, highlighting our key trends and recommendations.
We were very grateful for supporting comments from UK Prime Minister, Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, and Home Office Minister, Vernon Coaker MP.
The Report was also presented during a reception at the European Parliament in Brussels in April 2008, kindly hosted by Jonathan Evans MEP, to an audience of Members of the European Parliament (MEP), representatives of the European Commission and other relevant international specialists. We were honoured that Mrs Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Information Society and Media, addressed the reception with a keynote speech welcoming the ongoing success of the IWF. Commissioner Reding commended the IWF on stepping up to the mark at an international level, particularly our effective self-regulatory approach and successful engagement with the online sector. She heralded the IWF as a frontrunner in combating child sexual abuse online, praised INHOPE’s excellent network of Hotlines and said she hoped IWF’s experience will help to promote similar success around the world.
During April, we also hosted a Members Day at our offices. These events allow representatives of our member companies to meet IWF staff and find out more about the operations of the IWF.
May
The IWF was pleased to announce that Hamish MacLeod was elected to his third term of office and Mark Gracey to his second term of office on the IWF Board.
The IWF was pleased to announce that Hamish MacLeod was elected to his third term of office and Mark Gracey to his second term of office on the IWF Board.
During May, IWF representatives met with a number of EU parliamentarians and policymakers to share good practice approaches to combating online child sexual abuse content as well as attending Ofcom ’s Media Literacy Report launch, INHOPE’s AGM and addressing visiting international delegations keen to learn more about self-regulation.
Our ‘Hotline’ systems, assessment, security and processes were independently audited and IWF was found to be compliant with best practice standards.
IWF was awarded a 15 month EU grant from the Safer Internet Plus programme for the continuing provision of a public ‘Hotline’, awareness raising work, contributing to INHOPE partnerships and the sharing of good practice.
June
We were awarded the 2008 Nominet Best Practice Challenge award for raising industry standards. Click here for more information.
We were awarded the 2008 Nominet Best Practice Challenge award for raising industry standards. Click here for more information.IWF also attended and spoke at a number of national events including a Europol conference.
July
During July we hosted a visit from the Taiwan Internet Content Rating Foundation and were represented at a number of national and international events including GSMA’s workshop to develop a European framework for safer mobile use, the first International Youth Advisory Congress (IYAC), ISPA’s summer reception and the UK Internet Governance Forum Seminar.
During July we hosted a visit from the Taiwan Internet Content Rating Foundation and were represented at a number of national and international events including GSMA’s workshop to develop a European framework for safer mobile use, the first International Youth Advisory Congress (IYAC), ISPA’s summer reception and the UK Internet Governance Forum Seminar.
August
We were pleased to announce that IWF Chief Executive, Peter Robbins OBE, QPM accepted an invitation, on behalf of the IWF, to take a seat on the Executive Board of the new UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS). UKCCIS is a key recommendation by Dr Tanya Byron in her independent review into the risks to children from exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games.
We were pleased to announce that IWF Chief Executive, Peter Robbins OBE, QPM accepted an invitation, on behalf of the IWF, to take a seat on the Executive Board of the new UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS). UKCCIS is a key recommendation by Dr Tanya Byron in her independent review into the risks to children from exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games.
The IWF was shortlisted for the British Computer Society’s IT Awards 2008. During August, the IWF took part in an international Save the Children conference in Finland.
September
IWF held its AGM and joint Board and Funding Council event on 23 September at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. We are grateful to key partners and associates who kindly presented at the event, including, Stewart Purvis, Partner for Content and Standards at Ofcom, who spoke about the success of self-regulation of internet content in the UK; Dr Richard Clayton, Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge who addressed the effectiveness of different ‘notice and take-down’ arrangements; and DS Steve Puddephatt, Financial Investigation Team Leader at CEOP who spoke about how law enforcement, globally, is tackling commercial child sexual abuse websites.
IWF held its AGM and joint Board and Funding Council event on 23 September at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. We are grateful to key partners and associates who kindly presented at the event, including, Stewart Purvis, Partner for Content and Standards at Ofcom, who spoke about the success of self-regulation of internet content in the UK; Dr Richard Clayton, Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge who addressed the effectiveness of different ‘notice and take-down’ arrangements; and DS Steve Puddephatt, Financial Investigation Team Leader at CEOP who spoke about how law enforcement, globally, is tackling commercial child sexual abuse websites.
Following a comprehensive surveillance audit, we were pleased to announce that the IWF has been certified as ISO27001 compliant for another year. The ISO27001 standard is designed to help establish and maintain an effective information management system, using a continual improvement approach.Further to our commitment to share experience, expertise and good practice within the UK and internationally, we hosted visits from two of our partner INHOPE hotlines during September: Meldpunt in Holland and Spletno Oko in Slovenia.
IWF Chief Executive, Peter Robbins OBE, QPM, attended the launch of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS). The Council was launched by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Children’s Secretary Ed Balls. Reporting directly to the Prime Minister, the Council will help to improve the regulation and education around internet use, tackling problems around online bullying, safer search features, and violent video games. This coalition of experts and organisations will help to ensure that parents and young people have a voice in the development of a Child Internet Safety Strategy, which is to be delivered in early 2009.
IWF was represented at the Safer Internet Forum in Luxembourg, where Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Information Society and Media gave a keynote speech.
October
This was a significant month for the IWF as we held our second Awareness Day on 24 October.
This was a significant month for the IWF as we held our second Awareness Day on 24 October. The aim of IWF Awareness Day is to reach out to the UK’s vast online population to publicise the existence of the IWF’s internet hotline so all UK internet users know what to do if they inadvertently stumble across online images of child sexual abuse and let them know that IWF is dedicated to getting potentially illegal online content removed.
To help raise awareness of the IWF national reporting service, 47 major online brands, 6 government departments, law enforcement and charities joined forces to publicise the IWF 'Hotline' on 24 October. The IWF underlined the importance of its Awareness Day with the release of new research indicating that over three quarters of UK adult internet users who have stumbled across online child sexual abuse content are unsure how to report it. In addition, 71% of those surveyed ranked the availability of this content as their top concern about the internet.
To promote parliamentary recognition of IWF’s work and Awareness Day, an Early Day Motion (EDM) was kindly tabled by the Rt. Hon. Alun Michael MP and Ian Taylor MP inviting parliamentary support for the IWF’s work and stakeholders. The EDM received almost 60 signatures, confirming cross-party support for the IWF.
We are grateful to all the organisations and individuals who supported our Awareness Day. Their efforts led to a big increase in IWF website visitors and a similar increase in reports to our Hotline from those concerned they had stumbled across potentially illegal online content.
Also during October, IWF hosted a visit from the Turkish Telecommunications Authority who were interested to learn more about the UK self-regulatory approach to tackling illegal online content.
We attended the INHOPE Global General Assembly in Lisbon which brought together 70 experts from 30 countries, including Hotlines, international law enforcement, Government representatives, child protection agencies and international experts who shared success stories and expertise whilst addressing internet safety issues. During a special session of the event, Lisa Stopline, the Luxembourg Internet Safety Alert was welcomed as a provisional member of INHOPE and full memberships were granted for Child Foundation from the Czech Republic and Linha Alerta (FCCN) from Portugal.
November
During November, we attended Ofcom’s International Conference: ‘Next Generation – Net Generation: Managing competitive communications in a digital age’ which explored necessary conditions for the deployment of Next Generation super-fast broadband, and the impact that the Net Generation poses for traditional business models and regulatory approaches. Speakers at the conference included Lord Carter, Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting and Eric Besson, French Minister of State for the Digital Economy and Public Policy Prospective.
During November, we attended Ofcom’s International Conference: ‘Next Generation – Net Generation: Managing competitive communications in a digital age’ which explored necessary conditions for the deployment of Next Generation super-fast broadband, and the impact that the Net Generation poses for traditional business models and regulatory approaches. Speakers at the conference included Lord Carter, Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting and Eric Besson, French Minister of State for the Digital Economy and Public Policy Prospective.
We also participated in the 2008 ISPA Conference, 'What Matters to You’. The conference addressed challenges currently facing the internet industry and speakers included Nicholas Lansman, ISPA Secretary General and Derek Wyatt MP, Co-Chair of the All-Party Communications Group. The conference incorporated three panel sessions which focussed on the newly formed UK Council for Child Internet Safety; the Interception Modernisation Programme and cooperation between the music industry. Panel members included IWF Chief Executive Peter Robbins OBE, QPM, Cambridge University’s Dr Richard Clayton and Feargal Sharkey, Chief Executive of UK Music.
December
IWF attended number of meetings and events during December, including the first Executive Board meeting of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety. The meeting was attended by Baroness Delyth Morgan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families and Alan Campbell, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Crime Reduction.
IWF attended number of meetings and events during December, including the first Executive Board meeting of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety. The meeting was attended by Baroness Delyth Morgan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families and Alan Campbell, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Crime Reduction.
