Opt-in Internet porn filter across 4 major UK ISPs humming along nicely

In 2011, the British government unveiled a voluntary public-private plan to help parents block their children’s access to pornography and other undesirable materials online. One of the main elements of the plan had the United Kingdom’s top four Internet service providers (BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin—who collectively comprise 88 percent of British Internet users) instituting varying levels of opt-in filtering for new customers. Now, 18 months in, the charity that pushed for these changes—known as “active choice”—seems largely happy with what’s been implemented. The organization hopes that similar systems are rolled out to public commercial Wi-Fi hotspots, mobile phone providers, and all existing customers. Today ISPs remain free to choose whichever filtering company they want.