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David Cameron urges firms to block child abuse images David Cameron urges firms to block child abuse images
(about 7 hours later)
The prime minister has warned companies they need to act to block access to child abuse images on the internet or face legal controls.The prime minister has warned companies they need to act to block access to child abuse images on the internet or face legal controls.
David Cameron told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show search firms like Google needed to do more to block "depraved and disgusting" search terms.David Cameron told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show search firms like Google needed to do more to block "depraved and disgusting" search terms.
But campaigners the Open Rights Group questioned whether the "well-intentioned" move would work.
Google said when it discovers child abuse images it acts to remove them.Google said when it discovers child abuse images it acts to remove them.
It is one of a number of firms which recently agreed on measures to step up the hunt for abusive images.It is one of a number of firms which recently agreed on measures to step up the hunt for abusive images.
In June, the government said Google and others including Yahoo!, Microsoft, Twitter and Facebook would allow the Internet Watch Foundation to proactively search out abusive images, rather than just acting upon reports it receives.In June, the government said Google and others including Yahoo!, Microsoft, Twitter and Facebook would allow the Internet Watch Foundation to proactively search out abusive images, rather than just acting upon reports it receives.
'Big argument''Big argument'
But the prime minister said in the interview to be broadcast on Sunday that while internet providers and search companies were making some progress, he wanted search companies to block certain search terms from providing results.But the prime minister said in the interview to be broadcast on Sunday that while internet providers and search companies were making some progress, he wanted search companies to block certain search terms from providing results.
"I think it's wrong that they should get results and we need to have very, very strong conversations with those companies about saying 'No, you shouldn't provide results for some terms that are so depraved and disgusting.' "I think it's wrong that they should get results and we need to have very, very strong conversations with those companies about saying 'No, you shouldn't provide results for some terms that are so depraved and disgusting'.
"I think there's going to be a big argument there, and if we don't get what we need we'll have to look at legislation.""I think there's going to be a big argument there, and if we don't get what we need we'll have to look at legislation."
He added that the extra steps he is demanding represented "an argument on behalf of Britain's parents and children I'm prepared to have".He added that the extra steps he is demanding represented "an argument on behalf of Britain's parents and children I'm prepared to have".
A spokesman from Google responded, saying: "We have a zero tolerance attitude to child sexual abuse imagery. Whenever we discover it, we respond quickly to remove and report it.A spokesman from Google responded, saying: "We have a zero tolerance attitude to child sexual abuse imagery. Whenever we discover it, we respond quickly to remove and report it.
"We recently donated $5m (£3.3m) to help combat this problem and are committed to continuing the dialogue with the government on these issues.""We recently donated $5m (£3.3m) to help combat this problem and are committed to continuing the dialogue with the government on these issues."
Child protection experts say most illegal child abuse images are hidden and not available via search engines, the BBC's technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones reported. 'Very secretive'
The debate about online images showing the sexual abuse of children has come to prominence following two high-profile court cases in which offenders were known to have sought child pornography online.The debate about online images showing the sexual abuse of children has come to prominence following two high-profile court cases in which offenders were known to have sought child pornography online.
Mark Bridger, sentenced to life in May for the murder of five-year-old April Jones in Machynlleth, Powys, searched for child abuse and rape images.Mark Bridger, sentenced to life in May for the murder of five-year-old April Jones in Machynlleth, Powys, searched for child abuse and rape images.
And police who searched the Croydon home of Stuart Hazell, jailed for life in May for murdering 12-year-old Tia Sharp, said they had found "extensive" pornography featuring young girls.And police who searched the Croydon home of Stuart Hazell, jailed for life in May for murdering 12-year-old Tia Sharp, said they had found "extensive" pornography featuring young girls.
But child protection experts say most illegal child abuse images are hidden and not available via search engines.
Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group which campaigns for online freedoms, said: "The idea that banning some search terms will reduce the amount of child pornography online is a bit of a mistake.
"While I think David Cameron is very well intentioned, and of course everybody wants this kind of material to be tackled, we have no real evidence that search engines are the major way that people try to find this material.
"Because it's very, very illegal, people tend to be very secretive."
It would be better to boost funds for the policing of the criminal gangs and private networks responsible for the production and distribution of child abuse images, and to crack down on the methods used to pay for them, he said.
During Sunday's interview Mr Cameron also said he would like to see more restrictions on access to legal pornography that can be seen online by children.During Sunday's interview Mr Cameron also said he would like to see more restrictions on access to legal pornography that can be seen online by children.
He said that as a parent he worried "desperately" about it.He said that as a parent he worried "desperately" about it.
"There are rules about what films you can see in a cinema, what age you have to be to buy alcohol or cigarettes."There are rules about what films you can see in a cinema, what age you have to be to buy alcohol or cigarettes.
"But on the internet, there aren't those rules, so we need to help parents with control," he said. "But on the internet, there aren't those rules, so we need to help parents with control."
Find out more by watching the Andrew Marr Show on 21 July at 09:00 BST on BBC 1 or later on BBC iPlayer.Find out more by watching the Andrew Marr Show on 21 July at 09:00 BST on BBC 1 or later on BBC iPlayer.