Parents should protect children online: Google

London, Apr 24 (ANI): A public policy analyst at Google, Naomi Gummer has said it was a "myth" that laws can prevent children from viewing explicit material, because the pace of technological development would render legislation a "blunt instrument".

Lawmakers are calling on government to introduce an 'opt-in' system by which users would be automatically excluded from accessing internet pornography unless they specifically indicated they wanted to view them.

"The idea that laws can adequately protect young people is a myth. Technology is moving so fast that legislation is a blunt tool for addressing these challenges," Gummer said. "But also the truth is that parents are complicit in their kids using underage social networking sites. It is about education, not using legislative leavers," she added.

A cross-party group of MPs said internet firms have a responsibility to ensure that children are unable to access inappropriate content online, but that current efforts were "inadequate".

A parliamentary inquiry concluded that many parents lack the technical know-how to control their children's browsing themselves.

"Internet companies make so much money out of online pornography that it is not surprising that they would say this," MP Fiona Mactaggart told the Daily Mail. "They can't argue that their industry should uniquely rest outside regulation for the public good."(ANI)

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