Imagine the terrible possibility …
… that the alleged plot to kidnap, torture and behead a British Muslim soldier and then to post film footage of the atrocity on the Internet was both true and carried out. Would British Internet service providers knowingly have provided access to such material? I hope not.
But, if they blocked access, how would they justify denying access to this material but not to similarly vile images? Sooner or later we have to have this debate and come up with workable and acceptable – if imperfect – solutions. It would be better to do this now in a calm amd measured manner rather than be stampeded into emergency measures because of a particular public outrage.
A year ago, I spoke at a meeting of Ofcom staff and put forward my proposals for discussion and debate.