Commenting on a UK Government announcement that an agreement has been reached with internet firms which will lead to a "fundamental change" in how images of child abuse are dealt with online, Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George said:
"It seems to me that progress has been made on this issue and I am pleased that the Prime Minister and the Culture Secretary understands the serious implications of adults accessing this debauched content and have taken action.
"I believe firms such as Google and Microsoft, do have a social and moral obligation to do more to remove illegal material and I welcome that they have agreed to take a more proactive approach by allowing the Internet Watch Foundation more powers and resources to search out abusive images.
"It is about time that these firms standby their rhetoric and do truly take a zero tolerance approach to this material which is corrupting society and putting children’s lives at risk."
Mr George raised this issue with the First Minister for Wales, Carwyn Jones AM, two weeks ago and asked him to make representations with the UK Government and other devolved administrations to allow the UK to speak with one voice in condemning the publication of such material on the internet.
Note: Take from the Record of Proceedings, 4 June 2013:
Russell George
– As you can imagine, the tear in the community fabric of Machynlleth in the wake of the April Jones murder may now have a chance to heal with the sentencing of Mark Bridger. In the light of this horrific case, there have been increased demands, not just locally, but across the UK, that internet companies such as Google should take tougher action to stamp out images of child abuse and pornographic sites online. What discussions have you had with the UK Government and other devolved administrations on this, so that the strongest British case can be made to these companies that we are no longer prepared to tolerate this content and that they too have a social responsibility to show real leadership and adopt a zero-tolerance policy in relation to such content?
Carwyn Jones
- There have been no recent discussions but we were all deeply shocked at the events surrounding the tragic murder of April Jones, particularly those of us who followed the trial in some detail. It was utterly appalling, not just for her parents but for her entire family and, indeed, the entire community.
There are some who take the view that the internet should be as uncensored as possible. I do not take that view when it comes to, among other things, child pornography. I cannot see what possible advantage there is in allowing unfettered access to something that would be a crime if it were published in a magazine; I do not understand that. I am willing to write, at the Member’s suggestion, to the Prime Minister to ask him what his response might be after the revelations that emerged in the trial. I would certainly want to pursue this to the greatest extent that I can.