TeliaSonera Blocks Child Sexual Abuse Material Over the Web

TeliaSonera, the Sweden-based international mobile operator and Internet service provider, announced today the release of a new and free service that enables Internet Service Providers and operators to block their customers' access to Web addresses that feature material depicting child sexual abuse.

 

Distributed via TeliaSonera International Carrier (TSIC), which offers IP services in lots of international markets, the free service leverages on technology deployed by NetClean and makes use of a comprehensive URL list provided by Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), the UK organization that fights against illegal Web content.

 

With the new service activated, users who try to access (deliberately or by mistake) a website marked by IWF as containing child sexual abuse-related material will only be able to view a "stop sign" and a page that explains why the content cannot be displayed. This should work when users browse the Web from a desktop PC as well as from a mobile device.

 

"Launching a service that prevents the spreading of this type of material is an important step toward protecting the safety of children all over the world. We now hope that our customers, operators and ISPs join forces with us and activate this service toward their end-users," stated Malin Frenning, president of TSIC. "We are the first carrier to launch this type of solution in an international IP-network and we sincerely hope that our colleagues within the industry join this initiative."

 

"We commend TeliaSonera International Carrier’s efforts to stop the spread of child sexual abuse images on the Internet. Many companies have corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies in place, but it is seldom that a single company can wield such influence and exercise its power to achieve such far-reaching effects to protect children around the world from sexual exploitation on the Internet. We encourage everyone to join the efforts to block access to these websites," said Helena Karlén, secretary general at ECPAT Sweden.