The Cloud First to Enable Default UK Internet Censorship on its Public WiFi

The Cloud, a BSkyB (Sky Broadband) owned company that operates thousands of public wireless internet Hotspots (wifi) around the UK (approximately 11,000), today claims to have become the first such provider to “filter out adult content by default on its network“.

The new measures, which were agreed following a consultation with the groups customers (e.g. family-focused chains on its nationwide network including Pizza Express, Caffe Nero and Wagamama), will officially come into force from mid-October 2012 and must “apply as standard in all venues that sign up to The Cloud from now on“.

Vince Russell, Managing Director of TheCloud, said:

“Our venue partners have told us their customers want to be able to surf the web but with the confidence that their children won’t run the risk of being exposed to inappropriate material. Our new default setting means parents can have peace of mind that their children are protected in public places when they’re online.

Having been the first in the UK to offer this protection as an option to our partners in October 2007 we’re proud to continue to be leading the WiFi industry in this important area.”

It’s estimated that 5 million people every day pass through The Cloud network by visiting one of its partners, while Sky Broadband’s 4 million fixed line broadband ISP customers also benefit from free and unlimited access to their hotspots.

In fairness the fact that their network is often free and public might perhaps make this a less controversial move than the current debate surrounding fixed line providers, where the connection owner is the one whom typically holds ultimate responsibility for any related restrictions and not the ISP.

The Cloud states that its venues will still be able to ask for an opt-out from the adult content filter if they wish, although crucially there’s no mention of whether or not subscribers will be given the same control.