Anti-porn plan threatens sites like WikiLeaks

Supporters of the open internet have reacted angrily to Government plans to block pornography on the web, claiming it is the first step towards online censorship. Taken to its extreme, they warn that it could lead to sites like WikiLeaks being blocked for political reasons.
 
Over the weekend it was reported that Communications Minister Ed Vaizey is to hold talks with internet service providers to look at plans to block some content at source. Under the proposals, customers would have to ask their ISP to unblock swathes of the web that contain 'adult' material if they want to look at it on their computers.
 
However, digital civil liberties are adamantly opposed to the idea saying that it threatens one of the internet's cornerstones, 'net neutrality' - the idea that all information is treated equally and can travel without discrimination through networks.
 
The Open Rights Group is at the forefront of the opposition to Vaizey's plans. Jim Killock, executive director of the organisation, said: "This is the wrong way to go. If the Government controlled a web blacklist, you can bet that Wikileaks would be on it. This is not about pornography, it is about generalised censorship through the back door."
 
The organisation has launched an online petition and says: "This proposal could change the way we use the internet forever, breaking one of its founding principles, reducing its democratic basis, and blocking the development of new ideas."
 
The body fears that ISPs would be able to block their rivals and give priority to sponsored content. It says the move could herald "a return to the 'broadcast' model, where alternative media and voices cannot afford to pay for access to citizens".
 
Rob Manuel, who runs the b3ta comedy website, has also written an open letter to Vaizey outlining his concerns. "I worry for all the sites and companies that'll be randomly thrown into the list because of errors. And there will be errors. Masses of them," he claimed.
 
"Basically any website with a large user generated element will have content on it that's sometimes iffy, as nobody can monitor everything posted."
 
He also suggested that the idea was open to abuse. "I could create a profile on let's say The Guardian.co.uk - stick something porny in my profile - report myself to the ISP and boosh! Let's screw the competition for a few days whilst it gets sorted out."

Vaizey told the Sunday Times: "This is a very serious matter. I think it is very important that it's the ISPs that come up with solutions to protect children. I'm hoping they will get their acts together so we don’t have to legislate, but we are keeping an eye on the situation and we will have a new communications bill in the next couple of years."
 
ISPs have given a mixed reaction to the idea of blocking content at source. Some say it is too expensive and technically difficult but others suggested an 'opt-in' approach could work, if it had the support of customers. ·