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13 October 2025
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Clarification of Internet Watch Foundation role removing criminally obscene adult content
Published: Fri 7 Jun 2013
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) takes public reports of online criminal content through its website iwf.org.uk. The IWF’s remit includes criminally obscene adult content hosted in the UK.
If reported content is found to be hosted in the UK and potentially criminal under UK Laws relevant to IWF's role and remit – the IWF sends a takedown notice to the hosting provider.
The IWF is not able to take action if criminally obscene adult content is hosted outside the UK and has no role in blocking or restricting access.
Last year 3,320 reports were made by the public which alleged criminally obscene adult content. However, they were not hosted within the UK and therefore not within the IWF’s remit.
Ends
Contact: Internet Watch Foundation, [email protected].
About the Internet Watch Foundation
The IWF was established in 1996 by the internet industry to report criminal online content in a secure and confidential way. The Hotline service can be used anonymously to report:
o child sexual abuse content hosted anywhere in the world;
o criminally obscene adult content hosted in the UK;
o non-photographic child sexual abuse images hosted in the UK.
For more information please visit www.iwf.org.uk.
