Policy Observatory

France has introduced a new law that allows government agencies to order the blocking of websites that advocate acts of terrorism or contain images of child abuse.

The legislation was brought in by revisions to 2011’s Loppsi Act, and an anti-terror bill passed by the French senate in October, but can now be used by the general directorate of the police’s cybercrime unit to force French internet service providers to block sites within 24 hours, without a court order.

Sites that are blocked will redirect to a page from the interior ministry describing why the action was taken. The sites will be checked quarterly to make sure they continue to display the proscribed content and that the block is still appropriate.

The Tenth Meeting of the Council Working Group on Child Online Protection will be held at ITU Headquarters (Room A), Geneva, Switzerland on 30 September 2015.

One of the recurrent attempts to control the internet is the excuse of “child protection”. Italy has moved a step to this direction, and is going to release a new law against “cyberbullying” that confirms this new trend.

The Digital Economy Act 2017 includes a provision to allow providers of internet access services to engage in filtering of their service for child protection purposes, where this is in accordance with the terms of service. In light of net neutrality, this supports the position of the existing popular parental control filters offered by UK ISPs to their customers.

The Federal Trade Commission has updated its guidance for businesses on complying with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The new guidance clarifies that connected toys, Internet of Things devices, and other products intended for children must comply with the Act.