Telenor and Swedish National Criminal Investigation Department to introduce Internet child porn filter

The filter is introduced through a partnership between the Swedish National Criminal Investigation Department and Telenor. Telenor will be responsible for the technical solutions while the Sexual Assaults against Children and Child Pornography Unit at the National Criminal Investigation Department will ensure that the filter is updated.

The new filter is based on a solution developed by Telenor in Norway, where a child pornography filter was successfully introduced in September 2004. Telenor in Norway works in close cooperation with the Norwegian National Criminal Investigation Service, Nye KRIPOS.

"In Norway, we have received a lot of positive feedback from our well-functioning and efficient cooperation with the police service. We are therefore pleased to be able to offer the same solution in Sweden, thereby contributing to prevent further distribution of child pornography on the Internet," said Moniqa Løfstedt, head of information at Telenor AB.

"This is a genuine crime prevention initiative. The filter will enable us to stop a great number of people from accessing sites containing child pornography, and we will also be able to protect regular Internet users from unintentionally accessing such sites. Through a cooperation between various players in society we are able to enhance the effectiveness of our crime prevention efforts," said Peter Björk, police inspector at the National Criminal Investigation Department.

The Swedish child pornography filter was introduced Tuesday 17 May, and will be applicable for all of Telenor's Internet customers in Sweden, including business customers and customers of Glocalnet, Spray and Bredbandsbolaget.

Telenor will be the first Swedish telecommunications operator to supply a child pornography filter.

"We are aware that a number of Internet providers are developing similar solutions, and we would welcome a cooperative effort in the industry. Other providers abroad and at home will soon be introducing similar solutions, and together we will deal a serious blow to commercial distributors of child pornography," said Moniqa Löfstedt.

Here is how the child porn filter works:
The Swedish police will provide current and updated information to Telenor, including lists of Internet sites that violate Swedish law. With the help of the filter, Telenor will be able to block all further traffic to such prohibited Internet sites. Users attempting to access sites blocked by the filter will be directed to a site containing general information about the filter.

For more information please contact:

For enquiries relating to the Swedish cooperation and technical information about the filter:
Moniqa Löfstedt, head of information at Telenor AB
+46 734418101

Peter Björk, police inspector at the Sexual Assaults against Children and Child Pornography Unit at the National Criminal Investigation Department,
+46 84014655.

For enquiries relating to Telenor's experience in the Norwegian market.
Atle Lessum, head of information at Telenor Consumer Market
+47 41505645.

About Telenor AB
Telenor AB is a leading provider of all-inclusive data communications services, fixed line telephony and mobile telephony. Telenor AB offers reliable services to three principal segments in the business market: large Swedish and Nordic businesses, medium-sized businesses and wholesale. Telenor AB employs approximately 450 people and has offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.