Childhood adviser calls for children’s internet and mobile privacy to be axed
Claire Perry, a Conservative MP serving as David Cameron’s adviser on childhood, has called for privacy legislation to be revised in order to allow parents to monitor their children’s internet and mobile communications.
Appointed just last month Perry claimed it was ‘bizarre’ that children’s communications were off limits given the dangers they face online.
Commenting on the growth in so called ‘sexting’ – sending explicit images via picture message, Perry said it was the responsibility of parents to challenge and monitor their children’s online behaviour.
Amongst the recommendations proposed by the MP are that parents switch off Wi-Fi connections when they go to bed and block inappropriate contacts.
Measures under consideration also include introduction of a new system to report dodgy online behaviour, introducing a classification system for music videos and blocking access to ‘lads’ mags.
Perry said: “We have got to be much franker, much more open and upfront about it. I don’t want it to sound like harking back to Victorian values, but parents should sit down with their kids and say “are you aware of what’s out there?
“When I am finished I want Britain to be absolutely leading the world in online child safety."