UK Home BroadbandISP Users Shun Adult Internet Content Filters

A new report fromOfcom has revealed that the vast majority of fixed line home broadband ISPsubscribers have, after being given an “enforced” choice, chosen not toimplement their provider’s network-level filtering (Parental Controls), whichare designed to block adult websites (porn etc.).

Currently all of themarkets largest broadband ISPs are required, as part of a semi-voluntaryagreement with the Government, to adopt network-level filtering through asystem called Active Choice Plus. The intention is to prevent children fromseeing unsavoury online content.

Under this systemcustomers who sign-up to Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk or Sky Broadband are giventhe “enforced” option of whether or not to enable filtering, which comespre-ticked as “Yes” (to disable it you have to specifically un-tick the box). Alist of various categories is then offered for censorship (e.g. self-harm,social networking [Facebook], porn, dating, sex education etc.).

Since then the ISPshave also presented their existing customers with a similar choice and thesystem has thus now been in place for over a year, which means that we’re pastthe early adoption stage (virtually 100% of subscribers have been given thechoice) and so this should give us a better idea of actual adoption (note: datacollected to June 2015).

Take-up of Family-Friendly Filters (New and ExistingSubscribers)

1. Sky Broadband30-40%
2. TalkTalk 14%
3. Vigin Media 12.4%
4. BT 6%

Some implementations of this system are more aggressive than others.

For example, Sky will eventually enable the feature regardless ofwhether or not you missed the original notice, but the account owner can stilldisable it whenever they want (that’s true of all the above ISPs). Sky’sspokesperson said, “The automatic position of Sky Broadband Shield is thesafest one for all – that’s ‘on’.”

This explains why Sky are so high in thetable, although that position is under threat from the new EU Net Neutralityrules.

Interestingly the take up figures for new customers(excluding existing subscribers), who see the unavoidable choice during theirorder process, are much higher and that’s perhaps partly because it looks less like SPAM when you first see it. Equally some ISPs, such as TalkTalk, have been offering the service for many years. Still the results are mixed and the majority choose not to enable filtering.