Blocking child pornography on the internet: European Union developments

Internet blocking has become increasingly common within Europe as a tool to attempt to prevent the distribution of child pornography. However, until 2006, blocking systems largely developed independently at a national level. Although there have been European measures against child pornography since 1996 these measures have previously focused on other responses such as the approximation of national laws and the development of hotlines to report illegal content. This, however, is now changing and European Union (EU) policy is moving towards greater use of blocking. For example, the Safer Internet Plus Programme has funded the CIRCAMP ('Cospol Internet Related Child Abusive Material Project') police network to promote blocking and the sharing of national blocklists and the European Commission has proposed legislation which would require all member states to introduce blocking systems. This article outlines these developments and assesses the implications that they may have for freedom of expression online.