Talk Talk offers an adult content curtain

UK INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER (ISP) Talk Talk is offering new broadband users the chance to opt out of accessing adult material.

Called Homesafe, the option is offered to new customers and will see the ISP act as a nanny for its users, shielding them from material that is inappropriate for children. Talktalk is proud to be the first company to respond to government calls for more control over internet content, something that came out of its Bailey Review, and has been offering its existing customers the parental blocking since last year.

"While no technical solution alone can solve the issue of internet safety, we believe that it is our duty as an ISP to provide our customers with simple and effective tools like HomeSafe to help them protect their families online," said Dido Harding, CEO of Talk Talk.

"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."

The service will be available to new customers by the end of this month, and they will be asked if they want to activate it in the early stages of signing up for service. Talktalk said that it can be used to lockdown laptops, PCs and gaming devices and can block pornography, gambling and 'violence'.

"Ensuring new customers make an active choice about parental controls is a good start in improving the protection for children online," said UK Communications Minister Ed Vaizey.

"It will mean new customers will have to decide whether they want parental controls on their Internet access. I look forward to continuing to work with industry to ensure children can safely enjoy the Internet."

We have asked Talk Talk for more information on the service, including how it blocks content. µ