30 Oct 2008

Firms urged to help combat illegal online content

IT firms were among the web users who helped to tackle illegal online content this week to mark Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) awareness day.

The IWF awareness day, on Tuesday, sought to encourage all internet users to identify any illegal or obscene online content that can affect people's use of the web.

Adverts, emails and information pages have been distributed by the group to inform IT users of how to go about reporting any obscenities on the web.

Research released by the organisation to coincide with the day showed that 77 per cent of adults who stumble across unsuitable internet content are unsure about where to report it.

Last year IWF handled 35,000 reports from members of the online public who came into contact with illegal content, often advertised via spam emails, IWF spokesperson Sarah Robertson told the BBC.

She urged web users to report to the IWF any emails containing links to unsuitable online content.

Internet security firm CensorNet and data centre business TelecityGroup have recently signed up to the IWF as members.