Chair's report
April 2004
CHAIR’S REPORT
HARMFUL CONTENT ON THE INTERNET
The IWF’s remit is focused very much on illegal content on the Internet, but there has always been significant consumer concern about harmful or offensive content which, in most cases, is not illegal.
My own concerns were brought into sharp focus when I was recently interviewed for ITN in my capacity as IWF Chair. My interviewer was Sue Barnett, the sister of Jane Longhurst who was murdered by Graham Coutts. During the trial of Coutts, the court heard how he had repeatedly accessed web sites depicting violent sex and how elements of his actions mirrored what he had seen on-line.
Subsequent to the trial and its attendant media publicity, two Early Day Motions were tabled in the House of Commons. A briefing meeting arranged by EURIM was attended by the drafters of the two EDMs (Martin Salter & Tim Loughton) and other concerned MPs and interested individuals . I gave a presentation on behalf of the IWF and a copy is available on request. The main points which I raised for discussion are summarized in the Chief Executive’s report.
OTHER EVENTS
Since the last Board meeting, I have attended an number of conferences and meetings on behalf of IWF, including:
- Safer Internet Day conference held to coincide with the European Commission’s Safer Internet Day for the EU – I was a member of a panel.
- Barnardo’s conference held to coincide with the publication of the report ‘Just One Click’ – The report was written and the conference was organised by IWF Board member Tink Palmer and a presentation was made by the IWF Chief Executive.
- The Annual Conference of the Communications Management Association (CMA) – A keynote speaker was Lord Currie, Chairman of Ofcom.
- The Internet Service Providers’ Award (ISPA) annual awards – IWF sponsored an award and, in brief but challenging remarks, guest Richard Hooper, Chairman of the Ofcom Content Board, highlighted the need for the Internet industry to address consumer concerns about offensive content.
- The Childnet Academy annual awards – This is a joint initiative of Cable & Wireless (an IWF sponsor) and Childnet International (whose then Chief Executive used to be an IWF Board member).
- The first meeting of the European Co-regulatory Internet Network - As the name suggests, this grouping (currently involving seven European countries) seeks to promote a co-regulatory approach to Internet issues, involving all the players in voluntary arrangements. The meeting agreed a statement of objectives in relation to child protection and Internet pornography and the formation of two working groups on safe use of mobile Internet and the governance of the Internet.
RELATIONS WITH OFCOM
Although Ofcom regulates Internet access, it does not regulate Internet content. However, it recognises the need to work with IWF and wishes to have a collaborative relationship with us. Since our last Board meeting, I have started service as a member of the Ofcom Consumer Panel which should assist the relationship.
An IWF team – which included Peter Robbins, Sonia Livingstone and me – had a meeting with Ofcom officials to discuss how the regulator proposes to exercise its new statutory responsibility to promote media literacy. It is recognised that, with the convergence of delivery platforms for different forms of content and parents’ wish to exercise common values across different media, this is an area where IWF should work with the communications regulator. Ofcom will be publishing a consultation document shortly and the Westminster Media Forum is considering a seminar on media literacy.
ROGER DARLINGTON
19 April 2004
Page Created: Thu, October 7th, 2004
Page Modified: Wed, October 20th, 2004
