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I'm finding this a bit strange. As far as I am aware you have to opt-in to the porn blocker on existing packages. The chances are its already going to be off fo

I'm finding this a bit strange. As far as I am aware you have to opt-in to the porn blocker on existing packages. The chances are its already going to be off for most people, especially those who know how to use a chrome extension. I get the impression that this was created for other, more illegitimate purposes, that has nothing to do with "Cameron's porn blocker"

dijit 13y ago
nope, it's opt out by default. existing customers get a choice page, but new customers will have to phone in.
- desas 13y ago
  or log into their ISPs account area and do it.
naich 13y ago
Nope, it's opt-out for new subscribers and existing subscribers have to choose to opt in or out. There are many reasons why someone would want to use this extension. Sexual abuse support sites are currently being blocked by the filters, so a child being abused by a family member could use the extension to find help on the internet, despite the abuser having the porn filter on. Or a chap who has been pressured into opt in in might just want to have a wank over some internet porn - it's not illegal. If nothing else, it shows how broken the whole mess is. Opt-out filtering is ineffectual, often targets the wrong sites, and was basically introduced as a sop to a vociferous minority who would rather go back to Victorian standards and sweep all this nastiness under the carpet, than have an actual discussion about pornography and sexuality.
- nickjackson 13y ago
  Yeah, I'm aware its opt out for new customers, but its opt in for current customers. I would like to think that the reasons you gave are all mistakes with the blocker that would get ironed out over the coming weeks, especially more likely with the press attention it has got. Ulterior motives aside, if this saves even a handful of kids from growing up with porn addiction, its probably worth it, right?
  - naich 13y ago
    It's not opt-in for existing customers. At some point they will be presented with a screen that forces them to make a choice. If you think that all mistakes with the blocker will be ironed out, then you don't have any idea how large the internet is. This is a problem that is so ingrained with automated filters that it has its own name - the Scunthorpe Problem - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scunthorpe_problem http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scunthorpe_problem It is an inevitable consequence of this sort of system. Innocent sites will continue to be blocked. As for your other point - it's pure conjecture. Furthermore, it will not stop kids accessing porn. When I was a kid we used to swap dirty magazines. Now they will be swapping memory sticks. And those are the ones who don't take 2 minutes to go to google to search for a way to get around the filter. For all the other ones it's business as usual. The whole thing is a farce, designed to appeal to the Daily Mail / Think of the Children subset of noise-makers, while completely burying any hope of a rational debate.

dijit 13y ago

nope, it's opt out by default. existing customers get a choice page, but new customers will have to phone in.

desas 13y ago
or log into their ISPs account area and do it.

naich 13y ago

Nope, it's opt-out for new subscribers and existing subscribers have to choose to opt in or out. There are many reasons why someone would want to use this extension. Sexual abuse support sites are currently being blocked by the filters, so a child being abused by a family member could use the extension to find help on the internet, despite the abuser having the porn filter on. Or a chap who has been pressured into opt in in might just want to have a wank over some internet porn - it's not illegal. If nothing else, it shows how broken the whole mess is. Opt-out filtering is ineffectual, often targets the wrong sites, and was basically introduced as a sop to a vociferous minority who would rather go back to Victorian standards and sweep all this nastiness under the carpet, than have an actual discussion about pornography and sexuality.

nickjackson 13y ago
Yeah, I'm aware its opt out for new customers, but its opt in for current customers. I would like to think that the reasons you gave are all mistakes with the blocker that would get ironed out over the coming weeks, especially more likely with the press attention it has got. Ulterior motives aside, if this saves even a handful of kids from growing up with porn addiction, its probably worth it, right?
- naich 13y ago
  It's not opt-in for existing customers. At some point they will be presented with a screen that forces them to make a choice. If you think that all mistakes with the blocker will be ironed out, then you don't have any idea how large the internet is. This is a problem that is so ingrained with automated filters that it has its own name - the Scunthorpe Problem - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scunthorpe_problem http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scunthorpe_problem It is an inevitable consequence of this sort of system. Innocent sites will continue to be blocked. As for your other point - it's pure conjecture. Furthermore, it will not stop kids accessing porn. When I was a kid we used to swap dirty magazines. Now they will be swapping memory sticks. And those are the ones who don't take 2 minutes to go to google to search for a way to get around the filter. For all the other ones it's business as usual. The whole thing is a farce, designed to appeal to the Daily Mail / Think of the Children subset of noise-makers, while completely burying any hope of a rational debate.