Help for Cable customers

Whilst rare, from time to time Virgin Media is required to block access to certain websites meaning they cannot be accessed by customers using our broadband service. Blocking access to certain websites is something that Virgin Media does only when absolutely necessary. The two scenarios where sites may be blocked on our service are:

(a) because the IWF (Internet Watch Foundation) has asked us to block a particular site to protect children and our customers from potentially illegal content.
(b) we receive an order from the Courts requiring us to prevent access to a certain site, for example in order to help protect Copyright – this is a legal obligation we must comply with.

The IWF (Internet Watch Foundation) – Protecting Children Online

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is an independent body funded by the European Union and Internet Service Providers such as Virgin Media. The IWF operates a confidential hotline for Internet users to report criminal online content that exploits children. The IWF works with law enforcement to eliminate the sources of this type of content, whilst also working with its member ISPs, including Virgin Media, to remove access to this type of content.

Working with the IWF helps protect children around the world and also protects Virgin Media customers from potentially illegal content.

For more information on the work that IWF do please visit their site: www.iwf.org.uk

Copyright Infringement

The use of the internet has changed dramatically over the last few years, with the advent of superfast broadband services, and more and more of us are enjoying catch-up TV, listening to music or watching the latest movies online. Virgin Media’s network is able to deliver of all this great content quickly and easily – but we are aware that there are some sites on the internet that may be distributing content unlawfully.

Virgin Media prides itself on being a responsible ISP, and acts under instruction of Court Orders to block sites deemed by the courts to be infringing copyright. This occurs where websites are found to be operating unlawfully by facilitating access to copyright infringing material, and Virgin Media, along with other ISPs in the UK, are required to block access to such sites.