Pornography and adult content will be automatically blocked for new customers of Sky Broadband from next year, the company has announced.
Sky’s Broadband Shield filtering system for adult and malicious content is currently optional for customers, but the company said today it will come as standard for new subscribers from 2016.
The filtering system, which can be personalised to suit individual customers, would not show content unsuitable for under 18s until 9pm.
Existing customers will be emailed asking if they want the filter to be switched on, the company said, but the filter will be turned on if the email is not responded to.
Lyssa McGowan, Sky's brand director for communications products, said: "We believe that this 'default on' approach will mean much greater use of home filters and ensure a safer internet experience for millions of homes.
“It came about as we looked for the best way to meet the Prime Minister's objective of providing more protection for children when they use the internet.”
Baroness Shields, the minister for internet safety and security, confirmed the government's support for Sky's plans.
She said: "Family filters have proven to be an extremely helpful tool for parents to safeguard children from age-inappropriate content.
“Sky's 'default on' approach is a great example of how industry is exploring different technologies to help keep children safe online.”
Sky customers were the most active when it came to using content filters, Ofcom figures showed, with more than 30 per cent leaving content filters switched on.
Rival companies, including BT, Virgin Media and TalkTalk, failed to reach 15 per cent.
Read More
Sky added that 62 per cent of the customers it had sent the “unavoidable decision” email to previously had kept some form of parental control turned on.
The Open Rights Group, which campaigns for freedom online, criticised Sky’s decision and said it was “not giving customers an informed choice about filters” by enabling them by default.
The group added parents should not be lulled into a "false sense of security" by filters, and should talk to their children about how to safely use the internet.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
MORE ABOUT