ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the policing of the Internet within the UK in the light of developments within the European Union. The emphasis will be on content regulation issues and privacy concerns in relation to policing of the Internet. The main concern for the law enforcement bodies and regulators remains the availability and distribution of illegal content such as child pornography and the publication of official secrets over the Internet. Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), a self-regulatory body supported by the UK government, was announced in September 1996 initially as a hotline to deal with the existence of illegal material on the Internet. The activities of the IWF mainly concentrate on the Usenet discussion groups and mainly in relation to child pornography. It is necessary to emphasise the importance of some of the fundamental principles to be observed and taken into account while decisions are taken by government and government bodies in relation to Internet policy-making.
