Child abuse image content list

The child abuse image content URL list (CAIC List) is a list of URLs and image hashes provided by the Internet Watch Foundation to its partners to enable the blocking of child pornography & criminally obscene adult content in the UK and by major international technology companies.

Launched by BT as Cleanfeed in July 2004, as of 2009 the list covers 98.6% of UK internet connections. Cleanfeed was temporarily extended to block Newzbin until this process was moved to ISP-specific programmes. In October 2013, the UK government announced that as part of anti-terrorist measures it is considering a similar technology to block "extremist" material

Cleanfeed is a content blocking system technology implemented in the UK by BT, Britain's largest Internet provider. It was created in 2003 and went live in June 2004. BT spokesman Jon Carter described Cleanfeed's function as "to block access to illegal Web sites that are listed by the Internet Watch Foundation", and described it as essentially a server hosting a filter that checked requested URLs for Web sites on the IWF list, and returning an error message of "Web site not found" for positive matches. Cleanfeed is a silent content filtering system, which means that Internet users cannot ascertain whether they are being regulated by Cleanfeed, facing connection failures, or the page really does not exist.

By the beginning of 2006, Cleanfeed was used by 80% of Internet service providers. By the middle of 2006, the government reported that 90% of domestic broadband connections were either currently blocking or had plans to by the end of the year. Home Office minister Alan Campbell pledged that all ISPs would block access to child abuse websites by the end of 2007 and UK Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker instructed all UK ISPs to implement a version of Cleanfeed by the end of 2007 on a voluntary basis, or face legal compulsion. However, no legislation was ever introduced and ISPs are still free to join on a voluntary basis. Despite the target for 100% coverage being set for the end of 2007, by the middle of 2008 the proportion of consumer broadband connections that were covered was only 95%. In February 2009, the Government said that it is looking at ways to cover the final 5%. A report in March 2014 by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee reported 98.6% of domestic broadband lines are subject to blocking arrangements.

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