Google and Microsoft tighten searches to combat child porn
GOOGLE and Microsoft unveiled measures yesterday to block online searches for child sex abuse images, as part of a bid by UK authorities to crackdown on internet paedophiles.
The companies said as many as 100,000 search terms will now fail to produce results and trigger warnings that child abuse imagery is illegal while offering advice on where to get help.
The world’s two largest search engine operators’ move was a rare display of unity ahead of an internet safety summit hosted by Prime Minister David Cameron.
Cameron welcomed the progress to block illegal content but said far more still needed to be done.
“If more isn’t done to stop illegal child abuse content being found, we will do what is necessary to protect our children,” he tweeted ahead of the summit that will announce a new trans-Atlantic task force to tackle online child abuse.
Both companies have introduced new algorithms that will prevent searches for child abuse imagery. They have also agreed to use their technological expertise to help in the identification of abuse images.