Jimmy Wales: David Cameron's porn filter idea is ridiculous and will fail
Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, one of David Cameron's most high-profile technology advisers, has rubbished plans to introduce porn filters through the UK's internet service providers, dismissing the proposals as "ridiculous" and saying money would be better spent on policing internet crime.
Wales, who advises the government on open access to information online, told Channel 4 News on Friday the planned software would fail.
"When Cameron uses the example of paedophiles who are addicted to internet porn – all that these plans would do is require them to opt in," he said. "It's an absolutely ridiculous idea that won't work."
The prime minister announced last week that by the end of 2014 every new contract with a UK internet service provider will ask customers to opt in to receive adult content.
He said ISPs "will have rewired their technology" to keep children safe but gave little detail, leading critics to say the proposal is unimplementable and pointing out that the filters would only be activated for wholly new contracts.
The agreement is with the UK's biggest ISPs, BT, Virgin, Sky and TalkTalk, who account for 90% of the UK's internet users.
full: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/aug/02/jimmy-wales-cameron-porn-filters
Video:
C4 summary of Wales interview