BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin Media back scheme to protect children online

BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media have backed a government scheme to protect children online.

The leading internet service providers (ISPs) have published a code of conduct outlining plans to advise parents on restricting access to potentially harmful material.

Ed Vaizey, communications minister, said: "I am pleased to see the industry is taking action to help parents protect their children online. The new code of conduct is a real, practical step to ensure households make a choice about parental controls when opening a new internet account.

"I look forward to continuing to work with the ISPs and the rest of the industry to help children enjoy the benefits of the internet safely."

BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin aim to raise awareness about the existence of parental controls, create a clear point of contact for parents who have concerns about the issue, liaise with the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS), and publish an annual update from October next year.

The code will be implemented immediately, but it is expected to take a year before the technical developments are in place.

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