The 'Wallpaper' of Children's Lives
49.
However, given that filters are not completely effective, we would still want parents to be actively responsible for the safety of their children and take an ongoing interest in their use of the internet.
50.
Age verification online is an allied issue. We know that current online age-verification methods offer scant control or protection.The fact that we do not have a national identity system in the UK is sometimes offered as a reason why age verification cannot be improved. However, we note that age verification has to be in place in non-internet environments by law (for example, the sale of pornography on DVD) and if we as a society are saying that the supply of adult material needs control, then that control should operate across all outlets, irrespective of the ease of checking the buyer's age.
51.
Some internet companies are already tightening their own age control systems voluntarily and we feel strongly that the industry has the wherewithal to find a solution. The work being initiated by UKCCIS on both age verification and parental controls is positive.
52.
This work should proceed without delay, and must involve parents to ensure a proper understanding of the issues and to develop an optimal solution. However, if voluntary action is not forthcoming quickly then Government should consider regulation (for example, as part of the planned Communications Bill), however problematic that might be.
RECOMMENDATION
5.
Making it easier for parents to block adult and age-restricted material from the internet. To provide a consistent level of protection across all media, as a matter of urgency, the internet industry should ensure that customers must make an active choice over what sort of content they want to allow their children to access. To facilitate this, the internet industry must act decisively to develop and introduce effective parental controls, with Government regulation if voluntary action is not forthcoming within a reasonable timescale. In addition, those providing content which is age-restricted, whether by law or company policy, should seek robust means of age verification as well as making it easy for parents to block underage access. ACTION: Internet industry and providers of age-restricted content, through the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS)
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