Internet Watch Foundation

Bloxx, the web filtering specialist, has become a member of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), joining around 80 members from a diverse range of organisations in their battle against illegal online content. With its knowledge of web filtering technologies, Bloxx hopes to contribute to the success of the IWF in tackling online illegal content; specifically child sexual abuse images hosted worldwide and criminally obscene and racial hatred content hosted in the UK.

 

Through working closely with the online sector, the Government and public, the IWF aims to foster trust and confidence in the internet among current and future users; assist service providers in combating the abuse of their systems and to assist law enforcement in the fight against online illegal content. The IWF operates the UK ‘Hotline’, enabling the public and IT professionals to report any instances of potentially illegal content on the internet in order to remove it, prevent access to it and disrupt the activities of those operating such websites.

 

“We are delighted to welcome Bloxx as a member of the IWF. The dedicated support of our members has ensured our continuing success in minimising the availability of potentially illegal content on the internet and, indeed, child sexual abuse images have been virtually eradicated from being hosted on UK networks,” said Peter Robbins OBE, QPM, IWF Chief Executive. “It is important for us to engage with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure we are operating in effective and inclusive partnership and to facilitate the sharing of self-regulatory good practice, technological developments and wider expertise. We look forward to Bloxx’s contribution to this process.”

 

Bloxx Chief Executive Officer, Eamonn Doyle, said. “The IWF has done an outstanding job in raising the profile of these issues and working proactively with the Government and industry to address the challenges so we are delighted to add our support to these efforts. We look forward to making a significant contribution to the ongoing success of the IWF.”

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About the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) 
The IWF is the only recognised organisation in the UK operating an internet ‘Hotline’ for the public and IT professionals to report their inadvertent exposure to potentially illegal content online.

 

Our aim is to minimise the availability of potentially illegal internet content, specifically, including child sexual abuse images hosted anywhere in the world; criminally obscene content hosted in the UK and incitement to racial hatred content hosted in the UK.

 

We work in partnership with UK Government departments such as the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to influence initiatives and programmes developed to combat online abuse. This dialogue goes beyond the UK and Europe, to ensure greater awareness of global issues and responsibilities.
 
We are a self-regulatory body, funded by the EU and the wider online industry. This includes internet service providers (ISPs), mobile operators and manufacturers, content service providers, telecommunications and filtering companies, search providers and the financial sector as well as blue-chip and other organisations who support us for corporate social responsibility reasons.

In partnership with many organisations we strive to create continued awareness of the role and purpose of the IWF and aim to foster trust and reassurance in the internet for current and future users. For information, please visit www.iwf.org.uk

 

Tel: +44 (0) 1223 237 700
Email: media@iwf.org.uk

 

About Bloxx
Headquartered in the UK with sales offices in Holland, the USA and Australia, Bloxx offers appliance-based web filtering for medium and large organisations in both the business and public sectors. Leading UK investment groups such as Braveheart Investment Group Plc and Archangel Investments Ltd. have invested in Bloxx. For more information please visit: www.bloxx.com.

 

Editorial Contacts
Interviews, photography and further information are available from Bloxx’s press office at MCC International.  
MCC International Ltd   
Tel: 01962 888100   
Email: bloxxpr@mccint.com