Internet Watch Foundation

“The Internet Watch Foundation, law enforcement authorities and internet content service sectors have achieved more in a year without legislation than we could have achieved in five years through legislation alone. This very successful model of partnership and self-regulation has achieved outstanding and continuing results."
Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, Former DTI Minister of State for Industry.

 

Self-regulation is the principle on which our operations and structures are founded; it is also the preferred method of regulating internet content amongst the government and internet industry in the UK. Self-regulation and multi-stakeholder partnership is at the core of the IWF’s model, operations and success.

 

Our industry members are diverse and join the IWF for many reasons. Our full members, those with the ability to take down content, include internet service providers (ISPs), content service providers, mobile operators and search providers. Our associate members include software and filtering providers, financial institutions, trade bodies and others who fund us for corporate social responsibility reasons.

 

Each member nominates a representative to participate in IWF Funding Council affairs in order to contribute to our policy development and strategic future. With over 90 members, we have a significant level of industry backing.

 

This model of self-regulation strives to meet the demands placed upon it by evolving technology, industry growth and media, public and government scrutiny. The establishment of the IWF pre-empted the introduction of formal regulatory action and legislation of the internet industry in the 1990s and has since worked to ensure the right balances are drawn between freedom of expression and protection from criminal internet content.

 

Our model has been recognised publicly; by the government’s Better Regulation Executive in the National Business awards Better Regulation category and for raising industry standards in Nominet’s Best Practice Challenge. It is also referenced as a good practice model for self-regulatory bodies by Ofcom. 

 

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IWF

IWF Status
IWF Governance
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