Default network-level blocking by Internet service providers Internet censorship in the United Kingdom

1 default network-level blocking internet service providers

1.1 current situation
1.2 history
1.3 legal status
1.4 overblocking
1.5 criticism

1.5.1 in favour
1.5.2 against


1.6 mobile internet censorship
1.7 public wi-fi
1.8 libraries , educational institutions

default network-level blocking internet service providers

current situation

internet customers in uk prohibited accessing range of web sites default, because have internet access filtered isps. filtering program has applied new isp customers since end of 2013, , has been extended existing users on rolling basis. voluntary code of practice agreed 4 major isps means customers have opt out of isp filtering gain access blocked content. however, complex nature of active monitoring systems means users cannot opt out of monitoring , re-routing of data traffic, may render data security vulnerable. range of content blocked isps can varied on time. categories blocked across major isps include: dating, drugs, alcohol , tobacco, file sharing, gambling, games, pornography, nudity, social networking, suicide , self-harm, weapons , violence, obscenity, criminal skills, hate, media streaming, fashion , beauty, gore, cyberbullying, hacking , web-blocking circumvention tools

history

the idea default filtering originated manifesto commitments concerning commercialisation , sexualisation of childhood given parties forming cameron–clegg coalition government in 2010. followed review (the bailey review) , consultation uk council child internet safety (ukccis). campaigning claire perry mp , daily mail newspaper resulted in significant public support idea of internet filtering purposes of child protection. 2013 there had been considerable adoption of in-home filtering, 43% of homes children aged 5–15 having filters installed on family computer. nevertheless, prime minister david cameron made clear in july 2013 aim ensure end of 2013 isps have filtering system in place. result, 3 of big 4 major isps (talktalk, sky , bt) began applying default filtering new customers in 2013 fourth major isp, virgin, doing in february 2014. default filtering of existing customers implemented 4 major isps during 2014 aim of ensuring system applied 95% of households end of year.

talktalk had content-control software available comply government requirements. homesafe internet filtering system introduced in may 2011 opt-in product , used default filtering of new customers march 2012. homesafe praised cameron , controlled , operated chinese company huawei. after initial resistance other isps had commission new filtering systems fulfil government demands. smaller isps expressed reluctance take part in filtering, citing concerns on costs , civil liberties government stated: expect smaller isps follow lead being set larger providers . cameron said isps should choose own preferred technical solution, monitored ensure filtering done correctly. nevertheless, isp andrews , arnold not censor of internet connection broadband packages guarantee 12-month notice should start censor of traffic.

in july 2014 ofcom released report filter implementation , effectiveness across fixed-line isps. @ point big 4 major fixed-line isps comprised 93% of broadband market. mandating filters enabled default new customers, overall take-up figures low, bt (5%), sky (8%) , virgin (4%). figure higher talktalk (36%) there had been significant take-up of system during preceding 3 years. industry average 13%. in january 2015 sky went further, blocking material deemed unsuitable children under age of 13 of 5 million customers had not opted out. in same month talk talk announced customers had not chosen whether activate company s filtering system have opt out if wished turned off. in january 2016 sky began sending new , existing customers email asking if want turn filter on. customers ignore email have filter turned on automatically.

legal status

the current legal status of isp web blocking voluntary, there have been number of attempts introduce legislation move onto mandatory footing. david cameron first announced such legislation in july 2013 default filtering rejected @ september 2013 conference of liberal democrats (the coalition government s minor partner) , no government legislation effect occurred during 2010-15 parliament.

prior 2015 united kingdom general election, 2015 both opposition labour party , governing conservative party said that, if elected, legislate on issue. labour said introduce mandatory filters based on bbfc ratings if believed voluntary filtering isps had failed. conservatives said give independent regulator such atvod legal power compel internet service providers block sites failed include effective age verification.

proposals create single digital market european union (eu) member states include rules net neutrality. these rules require internet traffic has treated equally, without blocking or slowing down data. net neutrality guidelines announced in august 2016 body of european regulators of electronic communications. thought rules may restrict legality of isp filtering after 2016. in may 2014 government suggested veto european net neutrality legislation due conflict web blocking programmes. in may 2015, leaked council of european union document on topic of net neutrality suggested users have opt blocks, rather opt out per current uk government s plans. john carr of uk council child internet safety said of proposals: major plank of uk’s approach online child protection destroyed @ stroke . however, requirement uk government adheres eu rules on net neutrality may disappear @ point in future when united kingdom leaves european union.

overblocking

wide-scale inadvertent overblocking has been observed since isp default filtering introduced @ end of 2013. legitimate sites regularly blocked filters of uk isps , mobile operators. in december 2013 uk council child internet safety met isps, charities, representatives government, bbfc , mobile phone operators seek ways reduce blocking of educational advice young people. in january 2014 ukccis began constructing whitelist of charity-run educational sites children had been overblocked. intention provide list isps allow unblocking.

examples of overblocked categories reported include:

sex education , advice on sexual health
help sex , pornography addiction
support services rape , domestic abuse
child protection services
suicide prevention
libraries
parliament, government , politicians
drug advice

the identification of overblocked sites made particularly difficult fact isps not provide checking tools allow website owners determine whether site being blocked. in july 2014 open rights group launched independent checking tool blocked.org.uk, revamp of mobile blocking site report details of blocking on different fixed line isps , mobile providers. tool revealed 19% of 100,000 popularly visited websites being blocked (with significant variation between isps) although percentage of sites hosting legal pornographic material thought around 4%.

significant underblocking has been discovered, isps failing block 7% of adult sites tested. study commissioned european commission s safer internet programme tested parental control tools showed underblocking adult content ranged 5-35%.

criticism
in favour

proponents of internet filtering in favour of combat sexualisation of children. government believes broadband providers should consider automatically blocking sex sites, individuals being required opt in receive them, rather opt out , use available computer parental controls. in 2010 communications minister ed vaizey quoted saying, serious matter. think important s isps come solutions protect children.

against

the washington post described uk s isp filtering systems creating of strictest curbs on pornography in western world . there no public scrutiny of filtering lists. creates potential them expanded stifle dissent political ends, has happened in other countries. cameron has insisted internet users have option turn filters off, no legislation exists ensure option remain available.

in march 2014, president diane duke of united states-based free speech coalition argued against censorship rules @ london conference sponsored virgin media. discussion titled switched on families: online world make things happen? . panel included government representatives such member of parliament claire perry, members of press, , supporters of open internet such representatives uk council child internet safety, family online safety institute, , big brother watch. report on meeting printed in guardian on 5 march 2014. duke quoted saying, filters prime minister cameron supports block sexual health sites, block domestic violence sites, block gay , lesbian sites, block information eating disorders , lot of information s crucial young people have access. rather protect children things bullying , online predators, these filters leave children in dark.

the open rights group has been highly critical of blocking programmes, mobile blocking , isp default blocking. new statesman magazine observed overblocking means “the vulnerable people in society cut off need”.

mobile internet censorship

uk mobile phone operators began filtering internet content in 2004 when ofcom published uk code of practice self-regulation of new forms of content on mobiles . provided means of classifying mobile internet content enable consistency in filtering. major uk operators voluntarily filter content default , when users try access blocked content redirected warning page. tells them not able access on 18 status internet site , filtering mechanism has restricted access. categories listed blocked include: adult / sexually explicit, chat, criminal skills, drugs, alcohol , tobacco, gambling, hacking, hate, personal , dating, violence, , weapons. users adults may have block lifted on request.

guidelines published independent mobile classification body used mobile operators classify sites until british board of film classification took on responsibility in 2013. classification determines whether content suitable customers under 18 years old. default assumption user under 18.

the following content types blocked under 18 s:

suicide, self-harm, pro-anorexia , eating disorders
discriminatory language
encouragement of drug use
repeated / aggressive use of word ‘cunt’
pornography restrictions
violence , gore restrictions

significant overblocking of internet sites mobile operators reported, including blocking of political satire, feminism , gay content. research open rights group highlighted widespread nature of unjustified site blocking. in 2011 group set blocked.org.uk, website allowing reporting of sites , services blocked on mobile network. website received hundreds of reports of blocking of sites covering blogs, business, internet privacy , internet forums across multiple networks. open rights group demonstrated correcting erroneous blocking of innocent sites can difficult. no uk mobile operator provides on-line tool identifying blocked websites. o2 website status checker available until end of 2013 suspended in december after had been used determine extent of overblocking o2. not civil liberties , computing sites being blocked, childline, nspcc, police. additional opt-in whitelist service aimed @ users under 12 years provided o2. service allows access websites on list of categories deemed suitable age group.

public wi-fi

the vast majority of internet access provided wi-fi systems in public places in uk filtered many sites being blocked. filtering done voluntarily 6 largest providers of public wi-fi: arqiva, bt, sky, nomad digital, virgin , o2, responsible 90% public wi-fi. filtering introduced result of agreement put in place in november 2013 between government , wi-fi providers. pressure government , uk council child internet safety had led virgin , o2 install filtering on wi-fi systems on london underground , mcdonald s restaurants, half of public wi-fi networks remained unfiltered in september 2013.

overblocking problem reported public wi-fi filters. research in september 2013 indicated poorly programmed filters blocked sites when prohibited tag appeared coincidentally within unrelated word. religious sites blocked half of public wi-fi filters , sex education sites blocked 1 third. in november 2013, there complaints blocking of gay websites not related sex or nudity on public wi-fi provided train operating companies. filtering done third party organisations , these criticised being both unidentified , unaccountable. such blocking may breach equality act 2010. government arranged uk council child internet safety investigate whether filters blocking advice young people in areas such sex education.

libraries , educational institutions

many libraries in uk such british library , local authority public libraries apply filters internet access. according research conducted radical librarians collective, @ least 98% of public libraries apply filters; including categories such lgbt interest , abortion , questionable . public libraries block payday loan websites , lambeth council has called other public wi-fi providers block these sites too.

the majority of schools , colleges use filters block access sites contain adult material, gambling , sites contain malware. youtube, facebook , twitter filtered schools. universities block access sites containing variety of material. many students use proxy servers bypass this. schools censor pupils internet access in order offer protection against various perceived threats such cyber-bullying , perceived risk of grooming paedophiles; maintain pupil attention during lessons. examples of overblocking exist in school context. instance, in february 2014 website of yes scotland pro-independence campaign blocked in glasgow school while rival better pro-union website not blocked.