The bill’s proponents claim that part of their aim is to clamp down on rampant underage access to adult content online.
Moalem said, “The average age that children are exposed to pornographic sites is 8. I don’t think it is right for us to leave things like that. In the balance between the private individual and society we take a wide view. We are calling to create a society that protects itself from things for which we pay a heavy price.”
The committee’s vote to green-light the measure means the bill will now head to the Knesset to start the process of legislative approval.
The bill, sponsored by MK (Jewish Home) Shuli Muallem, will compel internet providers to block highly inappropriate and violent sites as their service default and these sites can only be made available if and when a client requests access in writing. Today the situation is the reverse — such loathsome sites are accessible unless one decides to install filtering services.
The bill enjoys support from all major parties.
A similar default filter on adult content has been introduced in other Western countries, notably Britain.
