Two of Iceland’s major internet service providers are considering blocking access to porn sites, gambling sites, and related sites for “safety reasons”.
While there are a number of smaller ISPs in Iceland, its two largest ones are Vodafone and Síminn. RÚV reports that these two companies are now considering blocking access to sites featuring porn, gambling, or other content considered “questionable”.
However, such an arrangement would not be an absolute – customers could request access to such sites, although this would presumably entail individuals informing their ISPs of what pornographic or gambling websites they would like to visit.
Hrannar Pétursson, a spokesperson for Vodafone, emphasised to reporters that the idea, if implemented, would not be done as a form of censorship but rather for customer safety. Viruses and malware are often found on such websites.
Birna Ósk Einarsdóttir, the managing director of the customer service department at Síminn, said it would be one thing to restrict access, and another for customers and parents to be aware that there is all kinds of malware on the internet, about which children should be taught to avoid.
As it is, no formal decision has yet been made about restricting or blocking access to such sites.
UPDATE: Vodafone has responded to this story, and clarified their position on this matter, which you can read here.
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