UK ISP Censorship
(BBC) -- Labour Party Leader Ed Miliband said today that he plans to introduce a bill to Parliament that would require Internet service providers to ask their customers to opt-in to sites that feature statements from or images of Prime Minister David Cameron.
"Many of these images and statements are very disturbing," Miliband said. "We are very worried about children being able to access this filth. This is not a censorship law, just a reasonable way to ensure that people aren't forced to access this kind of obscenity while surfing the Internet with their families."
Under the law ISPs will have to ask their customers to affirm that they want to be able to access sites that feature the Prime Minister. If people do not opt-in the ISPs will be required to block the sites to those households.
Opponents of the law said they feared it could be too wide reaching.
"While many people would like to keep this kind of material at arms length there are legitmate uses for sites that feature his words and images," said Marple Christie, head of the UK Library Association. "There is a big difference between an article from The Daily Mail and a site that documents the history of tyrants. While one is clearly obscene, the other is educational."
"Many of these images and statements are very disturbing," Miliband said. "We are very worried about children being able to access this filth. This is not a censorship law, just a reasonable way to ensure that people aren't forced to access this kind of obscenity while surfing the Internet with their families."
Under the law ISPs will have to ask their customers to affirm that they want to be able to access sites that feature the Prime Minister. If people do not opt-in the ISPs will be required to block the sites to those households.
Opponents of the law said they feared it could be too wide reaching.
"While many people would like to keep this kind of material at arms length there are legitmate uses for sites that feature his words and images," said Marple Christie, head of the UK Library Association. "There is a big difference between an article from The Daily Mail and a site that documents the history of tyrants. While one is clearly obscene, the other is educational."