Pornography to be blocked by major internet providers in UK unless users opt in for adult content
30 Jun 2013 22:37

Eight million households signed up to Sky, Virgin and TalkTalk will receive “clean” internet, unless users tick a box asking for access

Pornography is to be blocked in millions of homes in a bid to make youngsters safer online.

The move comes as it was revealed porn would also be banned from public wi-fi spots, with major firms signing up to provide a “clean feed”.

Under the new measures for households, web users will have to specifically request “adult content” from their internet providers.

By the end of 2013 more than 12 million households signed up to Sky, Virgin and Talk Talk will have to tick boxes when they apply or messages will be sent to existing users making them decide if they want a “clean feed” or not.

Parents will also be able to block porn from every device connecting to wi-fi in a home, with one click.

The online protection will cover all computers, games consoles and *hand-held devices accessing the web.

Sky has 4.4 million users and Virgin Media provides the internet to 4.3 million homes across the country.

A spokesman for Virgin Media said: “With the new technology we’ll be introducing this year, all customers, new and existing, will choose the level of parental control that is right for them.

“It will apply to all devices and gadgets that connect to the household’s internet.”