U.K. Group Pushes Email Campaign to Protect Kids from Internet Porn

LONDON – Campaign group Safermedia is urging people to email U.K. Culture Minister Ed Vaizey to express their support for tighter controls on internet pornography.

Vaizey is due to meet British internet service providers on Monday to discuss the possibility of voluntary and age verifiable "opt-in" filters that would give parents the ability to switch the default setting for internet pornography in their homes to "off," effectively blocking it at source.

The opt-in filters were suggested by Claire Perry MP, who has called for the internet to be subject to the same kinds of regulations as television viewing, cinema releases, and the display of men's magazines in newsagents.

The filters would make it easier for parents to safeguard their children from inappropriate adult content by enabling them to monitor and control what comes into their homes via the internet.

According to Safermedia, the office of Vaizey has already received more than 800 emails in support of the filters but it wants even more emails to be sent to show the level of concern about internet pornography.

The campaign group is asking more people to send emails of support before Monday's meeting and encourage friends at their church or sports and social clubs to get involved.

Miranda Suit and Pippa Smith, founders of Safermedia, commented: "This is such an important development and we do need to let Mr. Vaizey know he has public support behind him as he seeks to help parents protect their children better from easily accessible and ever more extreme pornography."

An email template is available to send on the Safermedia website at: www.mediamarch.org.uk/e-campaign.htm.

Safermedia is a charity seeking to reduce the harmful effects of the media on our children, families and society.