It might seem ridiculous that government officials would be trying to put restrictions on the Internet, but that is precisely what Prime Minister David Cameron’s intentions were when he pushed for legislation that would block pornography on the Internet using filters from ISPs.
The idea behind these filters is to require British citizens to “opt-in” if they want to have access to “adult” content. Both TalkTalk and Sky are currently in the process of implementing their new HomeSafe and Sky Broadband Shield filters, respectively. Each of these filters requires users to call in to their provider and request that the filters be turned off. British Telecom and Virgin Media have filters as well; however, their customers must “opt-in” if they want the filters to be activated.
What exactly does all this have to do with online gambling? Well, as one would expect, the filters ended up blocking more than just pornographic websites. The filters themselves have gradually been implemented across the country since July 2013, and have causeda number of false positives, including more than 54 registered charities that were blocked improperly. By the same token, online casinos are becoming blocked because they are falling into the filter’s “adult content” category.
The reason that this shift is particularly worrisome is the fact that, as recently as one year ago, the cable providers rejected a request from the UK Gambling Commission that wanted to begin the regulation of online casinos. Today however, both TalkTalk and Sky’s filters block online gaming.
Fortunately, it is still relatively easy for gamblers to bypass these filters, as opting out requires little more than a phone call to the ISP. Nevertheless, it is concerning that Prime Minister Cameron’s government wants to become increasingly involved in the internet activities of British citizens, and it is imperative that everyone stays vigilant about any future attempts to curb the availability of online gaming.
