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Poll: Should Ireland introduce an opt-in filter for online pornography?

A child protection expert has argued that parents should be given a choice over explicit content online. So what do you think?

UK AUTHORITIES ARE considering measures that would see internet users given the choice over whether to filter pornography or not.

Writing on TheJournal.ie this morning, child protection expert Pat McKenna calls for Ireland to follow suit and introduce an automatic opt-in filter for pornography and other content, such as self-harm and anorexia websites.

If you want to allow pornographic and other material into your home, then simply opt in. And if you do not want such a facility, then do nothing and allow the filter to apply.

A recent report revealed that one in five 11 to 16 year olds has been exposed to potentially dangerous content online.

McKenna writes that the measure would help parents who are not technologically literate, and would improve on home-installed net filters as it would apply to all web-enabled devices including smartphones, games consoles and some TVs.

Other media forms, such as print and broadcast, are already subject to obscenity regulations.

However, opponents of the measure have argued that it amounts to censorship.

So what do you think? Should Ireland introduce an opt-in filter for online pornography?


Poll Results:

No (1365)
Yes (762)
I don't know (527)

Column: Online pornography – Ireland should give parents a choice>

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184 Comments
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    Mute Thomas W Cooke
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    Sep 17th 2012, 7:09 AM

    If you had switched on the location services you could find that brick in a jiffy. Then again I suppose anyone could track the phone location, hack into it, turn on the camera, record everything. Follow you on Facebook, take your credit card details and all your stored passwords and PIN’s. There’s a lot to be said for the brick.

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    Mute Vinnie Mulvihill
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    Sep 17th 2012, 9:10 AM

    *cough* HTC

    19
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    Mute Paul Mallon
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    Sep 17th 2012, 7:22 AM

    That’s the exact same reason I won’t buy a laptop. I remember the old typewriters, weighed as much as a small car, and you had to practically JUMP on the keys to get them to work…

    68
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    Mute Micheal
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    Sep 17th 2012, 7:27 AM

    Was playing with a typewriter over weekend – what a lovely feeling! The sound must have driven the clerks demented though!
    In saying that, it would lull you into a nice snooze. Or is that just me on a Monday morning?!

    40
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    Mute Paul Mallon
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    Sep 18th 2012, 8:10 AM

    I’d say you’d have super-powerful fingers after a few week using one!

    1
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    Mute Metassus
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    Sep 17th 2012, 7:12 AM

    *sigh*

    I really enjoy Nick’s columns, but why do I get the uncomfortable feeling that we’re now descending into ‘click-bait’ territory? Please don’t let this thread be another litany of ‘my one is better than yours’…

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 17th 2012, 7:15 AM

    Wait for it…….fanboys are lining up.

    34
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    Mute Rory Conway
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    Sep 17th 2012, 6:20 PM

    Nick, who gives a curse. I spent 2k punts plus Vat on one of those. They were great for someone on the move but I can understand that their use in a prison was limited

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    Mute Anthony O'Brien
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    Sep 17th 2012, 7:39 AM

    I remember seeing one of those bricks, late 80′s I think. It was the size of a small car but boy did it look cool. Can technology keep going at such a rampant pace into the future? It’s actually quite scary to imagine what tech will be in our homes in 25 yrs from now.

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    Mute Paul Mallon
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    Sep 17th 2012, 8:09 AM

    Never mind your home, what will be in your body in 25 years.

    41
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    Mute Brian Doherty
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    Sep 17th 2012, 7:56 AM

    Why does the journal give this guy so much time?

    39
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    Mute Simon
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    Sep 17th 2012, 8:08 AM

    I think he writes good articles!

    125
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    Mute Simon
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    Sep 17th 2012, 8:11 AM

    I think he writes good articles!!

    65
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    Mute Gaius Gracchus
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    Sep 17th 2012, 8:33 AM

    Nick writes very good articles, and most importantly, they’re entertaining, the views speak for themselves

    79
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    Mute Tom Fitzgerald
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    Sep 17th 2012, 9:40 AM

    As an ex con he has to be extended the olive branch that all other minority groups receive on this website. Never forget how many lives this man ruined.

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    Mute Little Jim
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    Sep 17th 2012, 10:18 AM

    Good man Tom. Olive branch, lives ruined, so much irony in one statment.
    We’re lucky to have a commentator who knows the business inside and out.
    I’ll agree this article is a bit below par though.

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    Mute censored
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    Sep 17th 2012, 4:24 PM

    Nope, he writes whimsical sentimental claptrap.

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    Mute Barry Ryan
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    Sep 17th 2012, 9:10 AM

    Dead right. its bloody huge so is Galaxy S3, light and flimsy looking. Galaxy Note is worse. I have a Sony Ericsson, it a perfect size and does the exact same thing as the Top High Range Smartphones.. ?660 for new IPhone 5 on pay as you go. I can buy a new laptop and a new midrange android smartphone for the same price. Ridiculous!!!

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    Mute Owen Derby
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    Sep 17th 2012, 9:50 AM

    Not sure I understand the point of this article. Apart from reviling us with tales of Nicks halcyon days and his distain for new technology? The ‘I used to ‘ave a brick phone’ story is an old one, as is the tired theme of ‘I’m out of touch, with technology and I love telling everyone about it’. I’m not sure how any of this qualifies nick to discuss the release of the iPhone 5? I’m not a fanboy and find apples constant incremental releases kind of boring.. But if your going to discuss something like privacy and the mobile phones affect on it try picking a tech journalist to write it??? I’m kind of surprised at the journals choice of coverage on this, article reads like a Kevin Meyers asshat moment.

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    Mute Slap'stick Ireland
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    Sep 17th 2012, 11:55 AM

    Can someone please explain to me what a “Kevin Meyers asshat moment” looks like?.

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    Mute Liz O'Neill
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    Sep 17th 2012, 8:18 AM

    A thinly veiled advertisement for the latest iphone. And possibly for the building suppliers too :)

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Sep 17th 2012, 9:00 AM

    So somebody has gotten old and doesn’t embrace technology shocker!

    So what, I am sure people thought mobile phone back in the day was not needed. It was really cumbersome, you had to carry a spare battery too.

    Modern smart phone is light weight and versatile. Happy to have one and as a business expense it is cheaper to me.
    I need to use one now.

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    Mute Colm Humphries
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    Sep 17th 2012, 8:56 AM

    Nick, how about putting your genius to writing about the virtues of a fountain pen…. I’ll help!

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    Mute Krystian Brzezowski
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    Sep 17th 2012, 8:57 AM

    Eee still don’t really know why are you not buying that phone even after reading this article. Is it because of money you will spend on it? Or because there is no point because soon enough there will be a new one? Or because you will be too easy to reach? Or from a totally different reason that you have not wrote about?
    Just asking.

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    Mute David Conch Condon
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    Sep 18th 2012, 10:02 PM

    People who keep upgrading (whatever that may be phone,pc,laptop,tv cars etc) really dont care about the environment at the end of the day. Because there old one gets thrown in the dump.. Bigger and bigger dumps across the world. In a resourced based economy items would be built to last not to make a yearly profit margin.
    Time for change and the change is coming. Zeitgeist.com

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    Mute Robby Mooney
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    Sep 17th 2012, 5:25 PM

    Hey Nick you can’t afford one you owe to much money…

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