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<p>The government has no plans to develop a specific internet service provider child
protection policy.</p><p>Tackling child sexual exploitation and abuse is a priority
for the new online safety regulatory framework. All companies in scope will need to
ensure that illegal content is removed expeditiously and that the risk of it appearing
is minimised through effective systems.</p><p>Internet service providers will not
be in scope of the duty of care. This is because they do not directly host user generated
content or provide search engine services. It would not be proportionate to impose
duties on such companies as they do not control if, or how, content is hosted or promoted.
Subjecting them to new duties could incentivise broad blocking or removal of websites
or apps, which would pose significant risks to freedom of expression and users’ ability
to access services. However, they will have duties with regard to enforcement action
and Ofcom will be able to require these services, where appropriate, to cooperate
with business disruption measures.</p><p>Furthermore, the government will produce
voluntary best practice guidance for infrastructure service providers, setting out
where their actions can help identify and prevent child sexual exploitation and abuse.
This guidance will be separate from the online harms regime.</p><p>Pornography is
a legal activity amongst consenting adults. Children cannot consent to sexual activity
under UK law, and “child pornography” is an inappropriate description of illegal sexual
abuse. The terms used in the UK are indecent imagery of children (IIOC) or child sexual
abuse material (CSAM).</p><p> </p>
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