By becoming a member of the Internet Watch Foundation, Optenet adds its influence to the growing body of companies committed to combating illegal content online
Optenet has become a member of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), joining over 80 member companies from a variety of organisations in their battle against illegal content online. With its web filtering expertise, Optenet aims to support the IWF’s efforts to eliminate illegal Internet content, specifically, child sexual abuse images hosted anywhere in the world, as well as criminally obscene content and incitement to racial hatred content hosted in the UK. The IWF works in partnership with the online industry, including companies like Optenet, and with the UK Government to influence initiatives developed to combat online abuse. This dialogue goes beyond the UK and Europe to ensure greater awareness of global issues, trends and responsibilities. They work internationally with relevant authorities and organisations to encourage wider adoption of good practice in combating online child sexual abuse content and to promote inclusive and united global responses to this dynamic, cross-border criminality. “We are delighted to welcome Optenet as a member of the IWF. The dedicated support and efforts of our members have enabled our effective self-regulatory approach to be recognised as a model of good practice in combating illegal online content, particularly, minimising the availability of child sexual abuse content hosted on UK networks and worldwide. In partnership, we work to foster trust and reassurance in the Internet for current and future users and look forward to working with Optenet.” Said Peter Robbins OBE, PQM, Chief Executive of IWF.” “Optenet was founded on the belief that filtering illegal content online can create a safer Internet environment and that the technology community shares the responsibility of protecting the Internet for all users,” said Ana Luisa Rotta Soares, European Projects Director of Optenet. “The IWF has made great strides toward raising the profile of online protection and fighting against online content abuses, and we are thrilled to add our support to these efforts and to make a contribution to the ongoing success of the IWF and the eradication of illegal content.” Since its founding in 1997, Optenet has been firmly committed to eliminating the digital divide through effective education and safe usage of the Internet, especially for children. For this reason, Optenet has helped create a number of child safety initiatives, including Securenet, a European network of child sexual abuse hotlines, as well as NetProtect II, Sift and Infonet, programs that aid in the production of filtering and online classification systems. All of these efforts have been endorsed by the European Commission’s Safer Internet Program. In addition, Optenet’s latest project, Selecta, uses language analysis techniques and tools to automatically classify Internet content. Optenet is also affiliated with NGO Protégeles and the International Association of Internet Hotlines, INHOPE.
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