Question 1

What is Friendly WiFi?

Accepted Answer

An agreement has been made collaboratively with UKCCIS (UK Council for Child Internet Safety) and the UK's main WiFi Providers (who cover 90% of public WiFi services) which sets out a minimum standard of filtering that must be achieved in the provision of providing public WiFi services. Friendly WiFi is the Public WiFi Safety Assurance Standard and has been set up and licenses the use of its new symbol to Global businesses and organisations and educational institutions who provide public or guest internet access and meet thesestandards of content filtering.

Question 2

What type of webpages are blocked by those participating in the Friendly WiFi approval?

Accepted Answer

Wherever you see the Friendly WiFi symbol, this means the public WiFi service is filtered to meet the levels of protection as specified below:

1. The standard public Wi-Fi offering will automatically filter:

a) The IWF (Internet Watch Foundation) list and participate in the IWF Self Certification process.

The IWF URL List is a dynamic list of URLs (webpages) that have been assessed as containing child sexual abuse material. The list is updated twice daily to ensure it remains up to date given the IWF will be working with ISPs to have such content quickly removed. Friendly WiFi utilises the IWF’s self-certification process to verify that the filtering system for blocking URLs included in the List has been tested regularly ; or

b) The Project Arachnid URL list

Project Arachnid is an innovative tool designed by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection to reduce the public availability of child sexual abuse material. As part of this Project, an API is made available to industry to assist with preventing this type of material from entering their systems. The Project Arachnid URL list is a part of the larger API, and contains thousands of URLs at any given time.

2. The standard public Wi-Fi offering will also include filters to block pornography.

This will help prevent children and young adults from accessing inappropriate pornographic material themselves, and should also limit accidental exposure to inappropriate material that nearby adults might be looking at in public.

This filtering standard will limit access to pornography but will not block certain content such as pornographic pictures that appear within social media sites, encrypted sites, or the small pictures that sometimes appear as static search results when using a search engine without invoking a safe-search setting.

Question 3

What if I am able to access material which I think should be blocked under the Friendly WiFi approval?

Accepted Answer

Please refer to the above question ‘What type of webpages are blocked’. If you are still able to access webpages that you feel should be blocked then visit our Report Online sections on our website for further advice, or ask us a question on our contact us page.

Question 4

Where will I see the symbol?

Accepted Answer

You will see the symbol on windows, internal and external signage, or appearing on internet landing pages and websites as you sign in to their Public or Guest WiFi service.

Question 5

How do I locate Friendly WiFi venues around the World?

Accepted Answer

Look out for the Friendly WiFi symbol when you are out and about in the high street or at other venues or locations providing Public and Guest WiFi services. These include retailers, restaurants, hoteliers, transport companies and any other businesses, organisations or educational institutions providing Public or Guest WiFi. Use our Friendly WiFi search locator to find your nearest venue or location.

Question 6

Is there a fee to join Friendly WiFi and become Approved?

Accepted Answer

Yes, to join you pay an annual licence fee. This will be calculated on the number of WiFi Access Points or the size of the Location. To give you an idea, a venue or location with a single access point (calculated coverage for each access point at 1500sqft) will pay less than £30 per year! However, venues or locations with a large estate, or WiFi coverage, will benefit from scale discount.

Question 7

I am offering Public or Guest WiFi, how do I join the Friendly WiFi?

Accepted Answer

It’s easy, simply fill out the form (see link on our Friendly WiFi homepage) and a member of the team will contact you, or alternatively email us at fw@rdi-online.co.uk

Question 8

Can schools, colleges, academies and universities join Friendly WiFi?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The education sector (such as schools, colleges, academies and universities) have the ability to register for the Friendly WiFi approval and to display the colourful 'approved' symbol. The Department for Education statutory guidance (Keeping children Safe in Education) advises that schools and colleges should ensure they have appropriate filtering and monitoring systems in place. Becoming Friendly WiFi approved means that after adopting these measures, schools can be independently checked to prove their service blocks access to harmful and inapropriate material.

Question 9

Is the Friendly WiFi approval available globally?

Accepted Answer

The approval is available to any businesses, organisations or educational institutions worldwide who offer public and guest WiFi services and support a safe and better internet.

Question 10

I am an ISP, WiFi or Content Filtering solution provider, how can I get involved in support of the Friendly WiFi initiative and discuss offering to my Customers?

Accepted Answer

Friendly WiFi has developed many partnering relationships worldwide with now over 200 industry providers, both supporting the initiative and working with Friendly to offer the approval to their WiFi Customers. To get approved,or discuss a partnership, simply go to Get approved or Contact us section of our website.

Question 11

I am an organisation or subject expert operating around Internet Safety. How can I get involved and acknowledge my support of the Friendly WiFi initiative?

Accepted Answer

Friendly WiFi has developed many partnering relationships worldwide with organisations focused on making the internet a safer place. To become a supporter, or discuss a partnership, simply go the Contact Us section of our website.

Question 12

I am a business providing (or looking to provide) WiFi solutions for my Customers. Are you able to point me in the right direction for advice, or to find a suitable service?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely, we partner with many WiFi solution providers worldwide and although we remain impartial, we are happy to help and guide you when looking to find a solution. To access our WiFi Services please visit our Business directory.

Frequently asked questions