“Binging” Child Porn Searches

Technology being used to progress the protection of children has started.  Bing is the first search engine to utilize pop-up notices when pedophiles search for lewd pictures of children. The warning will notify if the search is illegal and offer a link for services to provide counseling. The UK plans to block all child pornography by having Internet users opt in for porn. This delivers a strong message that the person accessing this information is being tracked. Google is not participating in this tool to block child pornography. The power of Google could be instrumental in blocking access to sites endangering children.

So my question is why the United States is not accessing this tool? Why only is the Microsoft UK search engine, Bing, participating? How would child porn decrease if all search engines prevented child pornography searching? I believe the implications to using this tool are mostly positive.

I do understand freedom of speech and the concerns with this in the United States. There are also issues with filters and how to get around the wrong searches being targeted. Tech savvy people can probably bypass the blocks put up, but how many will it deter? Isn’t this plan worth protecting children who cannot protect themselves? What about prevention? Interest in child pornography starts somewhere. Making it less accessible may deter some voyeurs.  

I hope there will be studies in the UK to evaluate the effectiveness of such measures.

More information:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/28/4565050/microsoft-bing-uk-search-online-child-porn-filters

http://www.couriermail.com.au/technology/google-rejects-alert-that-could-stop-online-pedophiles/story-fniho1r7-1226687380321?from=public_rss

http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/22/4544574/uk-david-cameron-cracks-down-on-internet-porn-child-pornography