UK Porn Filter Bad for LGBTs, Says Alliance of Writers, Journos

UNITED KINGDOM—A coalition of writers and journalists has penned a letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron expressing their concern that his mandatory opt-in ISP-level porn filter will be “very damaging” to LGBT individuals as well as vulnerable adults “who could be denied access to legitimate sexual health and education sites,” the Independent reported today.

“In an open letter to the Prime Minister, prominent figures including the Belle de Jour writer Brooke Magnanti and feminist blogger and author Zoe Margolis, warned that the Government was taking ‘a dangerous and misguided approach’ to internet safety,” the paper added.

The open letter continued, “Focusing on a default 'on' filter ignores the importance of sex and relationship education and sexual health. Worse, you are giving parents the impression that if they install Internet filters they can consider their work is done.”

They also pointed to reports of numerous “faults” with ISP-level filters already in place that “unintentionally block important sites related to sexual health, LGBT issues, or sex and relationship education.”

They add, “This will be very damaging for LGBT young people, for example, or vulnerable adults who may be cut off from important support and advice, in particular those with abusive partners who are also the Internet account holder.”

Other writers who added their names to the open letter included the science-fiction writer Charles Stross. In a singular voice, the signatories suggested a different course of action for the nation.

“We urge you instead to invest in a program of sex and relationship education that empowers young people and to revisit the need for this topic to be mandatory in schools,” they urged the PM. “Please drop shallow headline grabbing proposals and pursue serious and demonstrably effective policies to tackle abuse of young people.”

The Independent included a statement by a No10 spokesperson, who said, “As the PM set out in his speech on 22 July, there are lots of charities and other organizations which provide vital online advice and support to young people and we need to make sure that the filters do not, even unintentionally, restrict this helpful and often educational content.

“Internet service providers are actively engaged in this issue and the Prime Minister has asked the UK Council for Child Internet Safety to set up a working group to ensure this material isn't blocked,” he added.