4 ms·

If these filters are opt-in, as the article suggests, what's the problem? They might not be particularly effective, but if they're not active by default, and no

If these filters are opt-in, as the article suggests, what's the problem? They might not be particularly effective, but if they're not active by default, and no-one's forcing them on anyone, this hardly seems like news.

stfu 13y ago
Because the foreseeable next step is "hey, these filters are already in place we should at least block out cp". They are building up the infrastructure up to the stage where a transition to the next step is going to be with no cost to providers and immediately doable. It just needs the political opportune climate to push it through. A sort of being ready for the "happy accident".
- lclarkmichalek 13y ago
  That's already done. There is a nationwide child porn filter that was implemented roughly 10 years ago: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleanfeed_(content_blocking_system) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleanfeed_(content_blocking_sys....
  - stfu 13y ago
    Did not know that. But then again the slippery slope argument totally lives up to my expectations: * In the UK the use of Cleanfeed was later extended to block websites that link to (without necessarily themselves hosting) copyrighted material distributed without its owner's authorisation.
muyuu 13y ago
I've been put behind opt-out filters (Three mobile). Only found out I had this filter randomly browsing and facing their wall page (it wasn't even porn or anything remotely questionable, just a suspect URL name).
- kintamanimatt 13y ago
  Me too, and getting the filter removed on pre-pay either costs money by way of an insignificant charge to a British credit (not debit) card which is added to your account (foreign credit cards don't work) or a trip to a store with ID that takes 15-20 minute in which they attempt to upsell you on other products. The only reason I'm with them is because I get truly unlimited data and flawless coverage.
- peteri 13y ago
  Simple to fix for three. Change the APN to 3internet from three.co.uk This hasn't caused me any problems on my "one plan" phone, I don't know if this will cause issues on lower tier plans.
  - lucb1e 13y ago
    Now just wait until the media starts reporting you've hacked them :P
  - makomk 13y ago
    Note that, last time I checked, the 3internet APN gets you a globally routable IP address that isn't behind any firewall. Which is handy but you need to be a little careful about it.
    - peteri 13y ago
      Didn't realise that but it kind of makes sense.
  - muyuu 13y ago
    My APN is set to three.co.uk and I still have the filter on.
k-mcgrady 13y ago
It's not certain that they are opt-in and if they were opt-out for new customers I wouldn't be surprised. TalkTalk already has parental content filters which you have to opt-out of when you are first setting up an account with them. They inform you about the filters during the call but you have to make the decision that you don't want parental content filtered or they will leave it on.

stfu 13y ago

Because the foreseeable next step is "hey, these filters are already in place we should at least block out cp". They are building up the infrastructure up to the stage where a transition to the next step is going to be with no cost to providers and immediately doable. It just needs the political opportune climate to push it through. A sort of being ready for the "happy accident".

lclarkmichalek 13y ago
That's already done. There is a nationwide child porn filter that was implemented roughly 10 years ago: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleanfeed_(content_blocking_system) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleanfeed_(content_blocking_sys....
- stfu 13y ago
  Did not know that. But then again the slippery slope argument totally lives up to my expectations: * In the UK the use of Cleanfeed was later extended to block websites that link to (without necessarily themselves hosting) copyrighted material distributed without its owner's authorisation.

muyuu 13y ago

I've been put behind opt-out filters (Three mobile). Only found out I had this filter randomly browsing and facing their wall page (it wasn't even porn or anything remotely questionable, just a suspect URL name).

kintamanimatt 13y ago
Me too, and getting the filter removed on pre-pay either costs money by way of an insignificant charge to a British credit (not debit) card which is added to your account (foreign credit cards don't work) or a trip to a store with ID that takes 15-20 minute in which they attempt to upsell you on other products. The only reason I'm with them is because I get truly unlimited data and flawless coverage.
peteri 13y ago
Simple to fix for three. Change the APN to 3internet from three.co.uk This hasn't caused me any problems on my "one plan" phone, I don't know if this will cause issues on lower tier plans.
- lucb1e 13y ago
  Now just wait until the media starts reporting you've hacked them :P
- makomk 13y ago
  Note that, last time I checked, the 3internet APN gets you a globally routable IP address that isn't behind any firewall. Which is handy but you need to be a little careful about it.
  - peteri 13y ago
    Didn't realise that but it kind of makes sense.
- muyuu 13y ago
  My APN is set to three.co.uk and I still have the filter on.

k-mcgrady 13y ago

It's not certain that they are opt-in and if they were opt-out for new customers I wouldn't be surprised. TalkTalk already has parental content filters which you have to opt-out of when you are first setting up an account with them. They inform you about the filters during the call but you have to make the decision that you don't want parental content filtered or they will leave it on.