Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales dismisses David Cameron's porn filter as a "ridiculous idea that won't work"
Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia and a technology advisor to David Cameron, has publicly lambasted the prime minister's "ridiculous idea" to impose porn filter's on the UK's internet service providers.
Cameron last unveiled plans that will mean internet users in the UK will have to 'opt-in' to receive adult content. If the account holder does not change the setting, adult material will be blocked by default.
Wales told Channel 4 News that Cameron's idea would be doomed to fail.
"When Cameron uses the example of paedophiles who are addicted to internet porn – all that these plans would do is require them to opt in," he said. "It's an absolutely ridiculous idea that won't work."
Moving on to the issues surrounding the allegations that the US National Security Agency is spying on citizens through internet firms, Wales said "billions had been wasted shopping on ordinary people's data in a fruitless search for terrorists".
He added: "We should be devoting a significant proportion of that to dealing with the real criminal issues online, stealing credit card numbers, hacking into sites … that is going to take an investment in real, solid police work."