MEDIA RELEASE
4 October 2013
Restricting Access to Porn Campaign Welcomed

Family First NZ is welcoming a billboard campaign in Wellington by an unknown group challenging the government to introduce better protection from porn online for children.

Family First has already called on the government to join the UK in having pornography blocked by their internet provider unless they specifically choose to receive it. Firms such as Google, Microsoft and Twitter have also agreed to give an internet watchdog group more powers and resources to search out abusive images.

“UK Prime Minister David Cameron correctly asserted that access to online pornography was ‘corroding childhood’,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“Strong protections around the internet through filtering are a great investment to protect families as internet usage becomes more and more common in NZ homes. The internet should not be left unregulated when it comes to the protection of children. Often, parents are simply unaware of what their children can access, may stumble across, or may intentionally be viewing.”

“The default setting should be the protection of children and young people.”

“Because of the availability, affordability, and anonymity of the internet, we must put as many safeguards in place as possible – and sooner rather than later,” says Mr McCoskrie.

In the UK, family-friendly filters would be automatically selected for all new customers by the end of the year - although they could choose to switch them off. And millions of existing computer users would be contacted by their internet providers and told they must decide whether to use or not use "family-friendly filters" to restrict adult material.

“We must do all we can to block websites that feature child pornography, bestiality, sexual violence against women, and detailed instruction of crime and drug use,” says Mr McCoskrie.

“While parents can take as many precautions as possible, including purchasing computer security products and supervising their children’s internet use, the government should not leave anything to chance and should be being proactive in the protection of children and families,” says Mr McCoskrie.
ENDS

© Scoop Media