Google signs up for anti child porn initiative

By Tom Sanders on Aug 24, 2006 4:01 PM
Filed under Software

Search provider joins forces with Yahoo!, MSN and AOL to fight online porn.

Google has joined the Technology Coalitions and Financial Coalition Against Child Pornography.

The two coalitions are run by the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) and its US focused NCMEC sister organisation. They aim to step up the fight against online child pornography.

The technical coalition seeks to improve knowledge sharing between the member companies, create law enforcement tools and research technologies used by purveyors of child pornography.

The group's members include AOL, Yahoo!, Microsoft, EarthLink and United Online.

The financial group was created last March in an effort to kill the business model behind child pornography websites by blocking access to payment services including credit cards. The group is made up off financial institutions and service providers.

"Both Coalitions exemplify the best spirit of private industry, as these companies set aside their competitive zeal to work together to protect the world’s most vulnerable citizens," said Ernie Allen, chief executive NCMEC and ICMEC.

"Google is to be commended for bringing its considerable expertise to the fight."