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TalkTalk launches govt-backed 'active choice' parental controls
Wednesday 8th February 2012, by Daniel King
TalkTalk has become the first broadband provider to offer new customers an active choice about to using parental controls.
From the end of February, new consumers who subscribe to TalkTalk will be asked if they wish to activate HomeSafe to assist them in controlling access to the information that their children see on the internet.
An active choice on parental controls was one of the recommendations of the government's Bailey Review, which explored the commercialisation of children.
HomeSafe is Britain's only network level parental control service, meaning that every computer or device using one of the firm's connections will be protected sufficiently, including laptops, PCs and gaming consoles.
Since its implementation, 270,000 customers have activated the controls, which can be managed through TalkTalk's My Account service online.
Suicide and self-harm websites have been found to be the content that is most commonly blocked by users of HomeSafe
Dido Harding, chief executive of TalkTalk, hopes that the firm's decision to give all new customers a choice of whether to activate the parental controls will help them to realise the support that is available to them.
Ms Harding went on to say: "Creating a safer online environment for children is similar to car safety for children in the 1970s where everyone needs to play a part, like with the Green Cross Code, education, seat belt wearing and car seat use."
However, she also conceded that no technical solution can solve the problem of internet security on its own.
The safety of children online has also been prioritised by Orange, which offers parental controls to all of its subscribers for free.
Its software enables people to monitor the online activity of their children with more ease, and child-specific options can be set for particular web pages.
Additionally, time limits can be imposed to reduce children's internet use
