NEWS RELEASE

'Internet is out of Control', says FEB Chairman

Legislation required to give blocking choice

(5th July 2011) The Internet is now raging "out of control" says Fellowship of European Broadcasters (FEB) Chairman, Harvey Thomas CBE.

"There is currently no practical option for the voluntary blocking of access to violent, criminal or pornographic websites to protect children and other vulnerable people", Thomas said.

FEB has urged responsible people within the European Union to set an example for Global Governments and to create Legislation, in line with the recent UK Bailey Review, that at least requires all new software to have a user-friendly option for Corporations and Individuals to block access to websites of their choice.

"This option fully supports the concept of Freedom of Speech", Thomas said, "but at the very least it allows parents, and indeed Companies and larger Organisations, to make the choice of blocking access to unacceptable Websites."

Thomas emphasised that FEB is not proposing the kind of Governmental block used by Countries ranging from China to Australia - but simply that all new, licenced software should be required to offer this user-friendly option so that over a period of time, it became available on all hardware with access to the Internet.

FEB draws together Christians in Broadcasting and Christian Broadcasters from throughout Europe. FEB also belongs to the Global Media Partnership linking with like-minded Associations in Australasia, Indonesia, Russia, North and South America and Africa.

For further information contact:
Jackie Sibuns
FEB
Tel: +44 1707 649910 +44 1707 662653
Email: feb@feb.org www.feb.org