Help curb access to porn

Not that long ago, the UK Government committed an unfathomable U-turn by deciding not to implement bold new legislation to prevent children accessing online pornography.

Part 3 of the Digital Economy Act would have required users to provide some form of identification to prove that they are over the age of 18 before accessing explicit content. It would also have ensured an operational regulator with powers to crack down on websites hosting illegal extreme pornography.

Despite widespread support from the House of Lords and the House of Commons, it was ditched without proper explanation. In light of recent evidence coming to light of widespread reports of abuse at schools alongside the incredibly disturbing Sarah Everard case, the government’s abandonment of age controls on online porn is even more short sighted and disturbing.