Low-Cost Tool Enables Mobile Operators to Filter Illegal Web Material from their Networks

LONDON, 22 January, 2009 – Optenet, a global IT security company and provider of high-performance content filtering solutions, today unveiled a solution for Internet service providers (ISPs) and Telecom operators that facilitates compliance with the Internet content requirements of various justice bodies across the globe. Web-Content Optenet Legal Filtering (WOLF) enables providers to intercept and block access to illegal Web/WAP content as defined by organisations and government bodies such as the UK’s Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

The growing proliferation of online paedophilia and child sexual abuse offences has forced governments to strengthen measures controlling, blocking and/or prohibiting illegal Web sites, in cooperation with the Internet service providers and telecom operators who are responsible for the trade and transfer of Web content.  Optenet has launched WOLF as a complementary tool to its full range of security solutions in order to address the concerns of legal liability stemming from unsuitable Internet content. Aimed at ISPs and network operators, Optenet’s new technology offering addresses the particular needs of each intermediary arising from the local regulation to which they are subject.

Web-Content Optenet Legal Filtering (WOLF) is a service that enables ISPs and telecom operators to filter effectively all Web/WAP content classified as illegal by local authorities, ensuring they do not inadvertently transfer content prohibited by law. The solution stands out for its simplicity, highly effective filtering system and flexibility when it comes to deploying it in the operator's network infrastructure. Other key features include its ability to filter simultaneously all lists of illegal content stipulated by the authorities of the various governments.

WOLF integrates with existing security systems to detect, intercept and block all Web content listed as illegal by local authorities and prevent it from reaching the end user, thus ensuring compliance with the specific regulations of each country.

Additionally, WOLF simultaneously integrates and manages multiple lists of illegal content validated and supplied by the various governments of the countries where the operators have a presence.

Features
- WOLF selectively blocks content from a site or domain, reducing the collateral damage that results from total restriction.

- The system incorporates custom programs for downloading and importing external lists of content classified as illegal.

- The product also allows the operator to edit externally supplied databases following legal judgments in the event that they contain an error.

- The highly configurable solution allows management of specific security policies for each imported list. It also enables logs of blocked traffic to be configured in accordance with legal requirements, with the option to partially hide or encrypt sensitive data (user IPs and URLs blocked).

- Any administrator can generate operational alerts and custom reports.

- The solution includes a system of automatic downloads and updates of the latest files supplied by the source (competent authority) and of the configured lists.

Legal Context
From a regulatory point of view, there are various legal systems with jurisdiction over the issue of controlling illegal online content. In France, for example, agreements are being reached with local authorities for ISPs and operators to filter illegal content specified on blacklists of prohibited Web pages and sites. In this situation, the government assumes responsibility for informing operators of the content classified as illegal and the operators must then decide what technology they will utilise to block the sites in question and prevent them from reappearing at another domain.  In the UK, the issue of a Web rating system has already been raised by the Culture Secretary and debates have arisen to determine how involved government should become in Internet control.

According to Javier Peralta, Sales Director Northern Europe Optenet “WOLF complements our range of security solutions for ISPs and telecom operators, positioning Optenet as a strategic partner for these intermediaries, supplying solutions that address the technical requirements they face as mandated by their own legal systems.”