In a speech to the NSPCC, the UK Prime Minister announced plans for the creation of a symbol to establish the safety of public WiFi.

 

 

“We’re keen to introduce a family friendly WiFi symbol which retailers, hotels, transport companies can use to show their customers that their public WiFi is properly filtered.”

UK Prime Minister, July 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Friendly WiFi symbol was created and launched the following year in partnership with the 

The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS).

 

The UK Government earned a commitment from the main WiFi providers that they would offer a standard of public service which filtered for:

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• Pornography

• Webpages known by the Internet Watch Foundation to host indecent images of children, adverts or links to such content

 

 

The Symbol

The standard was launched under one simple, easily recognised symbol to provide global public assurance that the WiFi they are using in venues and locations is independently certified as filtered.

 

It also allows global operators of public and guest WiFi to show they care about their WiFi users safe online experience. So, it’s good to know that anywhere you see the Friendly WiFi symbol –  the service will meet minimum standards for safe use.

 

RDI (UK)

Friendly WiFi is operated by RDI (UK), which oversees the UK database of qualified, security checked, insured and safe digital installers.

 

RDI maintain close contact with WiFi providers worldwide, providing ongoing technical support and policy guidance.

 

Please note: filtering is an effective method of providing a safe online experience, but it cannot block content or images which appear within social media sites, encrypted sites or block small images which are sometimes returned when using a search engine without invoking a ‘safe search’ setting.