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Implementation
Filtering and blocking
Following relatively lengthy discussions, initiatives concerning filtering and blocking have died out.
Filtering is the process of determining which items within a flow of traffic must be blocked. Blocking
involves actually blocking a flow of traffic. Filtering can take place either at the border (centrally), or
prior to delivery by the ISP (de-centrally). 776 The <strong>National</strong> Police Services already experimented with
this concept in 2006. This experiment is described in a study carried out by the Scientific Research
and Documentation Centre [Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek- en Documentatiecentrum] in 2007 and 2008. 777
The Van der Staaij-Rouvoet 778 motion requested an investigation into the further possibilities of
blocking and filtering on the Internet. This motion resulted in the implementation of an investigation.
779 The researchers state that they found no factual basis for the assumption that filtering
and blocking would prevent access to child abuse material in an effective manner. They also refer
to the fact that filtering and blocking are not effective in preventing the exchange of material.
Newsgroups and peer-to-peer applications are the current exchange channels. At most, blocking
results in a small barrier for beginner searchers for child abuse material. It does not prevent access
to such material. 780
In 2008, on the basis of this investigation, the Minister of Justice encouraged private parties to selfregulate.
The government needs to tackle the sexual abuse of children, especially via the criminal
route. All available capacity is required for this. 781 The private parties were subsequently requested
to take action to prevent the distribution of images. In response to this, various ISPs promised to
come up with a self-regulating initiative. For this purpose, they sought collaboration with the Hotline
Combating <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Pornography</strong> on the Internet. The system consists of a black list of websites
that is compiled by this hotline, and that is implemented by the ISPs. This did not turn out to be
feasible. On 22 November 2010, the Internet Safety Platform, comprising private partners and the
Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation and the Ministry of Security and Justice,
sent a letter to the Minister for Security and Justice. The Platform announced that the black list is so
small that blocking of websites is an ineffective provision. The efforts involved are not in proportion
to the desired effect. 782 In the meantime, the supply of child abuse images has moved to less accessible
parts of the Internet. The need to prevent individuals from being inadvertently confronted
with such images – the intention behind blocking – had been removed. The Minister of Security
and Justice decided to follow the advice from the Platform. In the meantime, the police and the
hosting-provider Leaseweb have made arrangements to launch a pilot, in which the uploading of
child abuse material can be prevented (filtering). 783
776 Parliamentary Papers II, 2005/06, 30 300 VI, no.139.
777 Parliamentary Papers II, 2010/11, 32 500 VI, no.86.
778 Parliamentary Papers II, 2005/06, 30 300 VI, no.16.
779 Parliamentary Papers II, 2007/08, 28 684 and 31 200 VI, no.166, research carried out by the Scientific Research
and Documentation Centre, Filtering child pornography on the Internet. An exploration of
techniques and regulations in the Netherlands and abroad.
780 Parliamentary Papers II, 2007/08, 28 684 and 31 200 VI, no.166.
781 Parliamentary Papers II, 2010/11, 32 500 VI, no.86.
782 Parliamentary Papers II, 2010/11, 32 500 VI, no.86.
783 Parliamentary Papers II, 2010/11, 32 500 VI, no.86.
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