Microsoft search engine Bing introduces pop-up warning for child abuse search terms

[Lara Mills]

Microsoft search engine Bing introduces pop-up warning for child abuse search terms



The search engine will now warn users when they are in danger of accessing illegal material

Microsoft’s Bing search engine has become the first to introduce pop-up warnings on sites containing images of child abuse.

The Bing Notification Platform will inform the user that the content they are trying to access is illegal and will also provide details of a counselling service.

Users attempting to access indecent images will be presented with a warning, which is triggered by ‘blacklisted’ terms from a list compiled by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre are entered into a search engine.

The move comes after Prime Minister David Cameron stressed that companies should be doing more to ensure such images are not accessible online. Mr Cameron accused firms of not doing enough to block access to images of abuse and met with tech companies such as Google to discuss preventative measures.

His calls for tighter security followed the high profile murders of Tia Sharp and April Jones, whose killers had both accessed indecent images before committing their crimes.

The Bing notifications aim to “stop those who may be drifting towards trying to find illegal child abuse content on the web via search engines”, according to Microsoft.

A spokesman said: "If someone in the UK tries to use search terms on Bing which can only indicate they are looking for illegal child abuse content, they will activate the Bing Notification Platform which will produce an on-screen notification telling them that child abuse content is illegal.

"The notification will also contain a link to Stopitnow.org who will be able to provide them with counselling.

"We have teams dedicated globally to abuse reporting on our services and the development of new innovations to combat child exploitation more broadly.”

Research by Experian last December showed that Bing had a 4.99 per cent share of the UK search engine market, which is dominated by Google and its 88.3 per cent market share.

The move places Google under more pressure to take more proactive steps in tackling abusive images. A Google spokesman said: “Child abuse imagery is illegal and we have a zero tolerance policy to it.

“We use purpose built technology and work with child safety organisations like the Internet Watch Foundation to find, remove and report it, because we never want this material to appear in our search results.

“We are working with experts on effective ways to deter anyone tempted to look for this sickening material.”

Source: click here

[samlad]

Now the next step is to ban child pornography altogether!

[Lara Mills]

It's a fantastic idea and will stop many from accessing those illegal sites, but how wide will the net turn? Will it suddenly include a whole range of sins, including warnings that you are accessing porn websites?

I reckon that the pop-up will be enough to shock people and stop them from accessing it, but how many people just ignore pop-ups or have them blocked?

[Lara Mills]

Now the next step is to ban child pornography altogether!

I have no idea why it isn't banned anyway. How can anyone say that it is okay to access those kind of materials?

[pleasurekerry]

It's a fantastic idea and will stop many from accessing those illegal sites, but how wide will the net turn? Will it suddenly include a whole range of sins, including warnings that you are accessing porn websites?

I reckon that the pop-up will be enough to shock people and stop them from accessing it, but how many people just ignore pop-ups or have them blocked?

.one would think and hope that such a pop up would have more effect than the "regular" ones; if it makes even half those about to access site think again ,and maybe not go there at all, it would be worth it...

[Yamser]

.one would think and hope that such a pop up would have more effect than the "regular" ones; if it makes even half those about to access site think again ,and maybe not go there at all, it would be worth it...

i agree , all the web browsers should have built in blockers for that so the program wont open those sites, if they can add a pop up with them sites they should be able to completely stop the browser from opening them,

[braveboy]

Great idea but unfortunate it's come from the 'Softies'. those muppets will probably block mothercare.

[mikki99943]

Now the next step is to ban child pornography altogether!

Accessing and possessing child pornography is illegal in Ireland and the uk . This should be made very clear.
For every child pornography image produced a child is abused , lets make this clear if you possess these images you are causing child abuse and therefore deserve to be jailed and removed from society .