The IWF works internationally to find, assess, and remove child sexual abuse material from the internet. Whilst steps to have content removed are in progress, we provide a detailed list of live URLs, webpages and websites, to industry Members to detect, block and disrupt access and reduce the risk of accidental exposure. We consider blocking to be a short-term disruption tactic which can help protect internet users from stumbling across these images, whilst processes to have them removed are instigated.
Our systems and processes in compiling this list have been periodically inspected and audited by independent experts. The URLs are assessed according to UK law, a process reinforced by reciprocal police training, with each image or video being categorised in line with criteria set out by the UK Sentencing Council.
In the event of a dispute or complaint about an IWF-assessed URL, any party with a legitimate association (*1) with the content or a potential victim or the victim’s representative, hosting company, publisher or internet consumer who believes they are being prevented from accessing legal content may appeal against the accuracy of an assessment.
(*1) A party affected by the issue of a notice or blocked by the addition of a URL to the IWF URL List.
Whilst the IWF facilitates this blocking initiative through the provision of a URL list and does not stipulate which blocking method is used, we do provide good practice guidance regarding the way in which blocking is conducted. These good practice recommendations for blocking are designed to maintain the principle of transparency and minimise over-blocking and latency issues.
Recommendations:
The IWF strongly recommends that all relevant members serve a splash page featuring the text below. This text has been developed in partnership with Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF), who run the Stop It Now helpline, and is based on research undertaken with offenders to identify effective wording.
LFF welcomes approaches from tech companies that would like to discuss making their deterrence messaging even more effective. To get in touch, please email [email protected]
Recommended text:
"Access has been denied by your internet access provider because this page may contain indecent images of children as identified by the Internet Watch Foundation.
Deliberate attempts to access this or related material may result in you committing a criminal offence.
The consequences of accessing such material are likely to be serious. People arrested risk losing their family and friends, access to children (including their own) and their jobs.
Stop It Now can provide confidential and anonymous help to address concerning internet behaviour. They have helped thousands of people in this situation.
+44 (0) 808 1000 900 | Click here to find help at Stop It Now
If you think this page has been blocked in error, please contact <your service provider> or visit the IWF's Content Assessment Appeal Process page."
For those wishing to address inadvertent access, there is the option to add:
"If you did not intend to view this content, please close the browser page now. You can also anonymously report any potentially illegal child sexual abuse content to the Internet Watch Foundation here."
**Please copy and paste these links directly onto your splash page rather than retyping to ensure the tracking is correct.**