ISPA's industry role
Since its inception in 1995, ISPA has been at the forefront of industry efforts to promote competition, self-regulation and the positive development of the Internet industry. The ways in which ISPA has fostered a better online environment for users include: Compliance with the ISPA UK Code of Practice is mandatory for all ISPA members and is viewed as a mark of good business practice. The Code is regularly updated and covers issues like consumer complaints, data protection and service quality. To promote best practice, the Code, for instance, states that all members must have a single point of contact for complaints and must provide a contact with the Internet Watch Foundation. ISPA membership also includes free membership of CISAS, one of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Schemes, which ajudicates on consumer complaints. INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION ISPA was instrumental in founding the Internet Watch Foundation, the UK hotline for reporting illegal online content, in 1997 and holds permanent membership. As one of the many funding organisations of the IWF, along with many other ISPA members, ISPA sits on the funding council. The success of the IWF has seen the amount of child abuse images hosted in the UK fall from 18% in 1997 to 0.4%. EUROISPA ISPA and its members have drafted several Best Common Practice documents. BCPs are non binding recommendations that ISPA produces to help inform members and consumers. ISPA also produces backgrounders on a variety of areas - including cookies and choosing an ISP - to inform Internet users of key issues. ISPA and its members have contribute to a variety of Government initiatives and are regularly approached by Government for help and advice and to effect better policy. ISPA also engages government and regulatory consultations on behalf of its members.
CODE OF PRACTICE
EuroISPA, the pan-European association of ISPAs, was founded in 1997 with ISPA UK playing an important part in its creation. EuroISPA represents the European ISP industry on EU policy and legislative and faciltiates the exchange of best practice between national associations.
INTERNET SAFETY
The Byron Review into the potential harmful effects of the Internet and video games called for the establishment of a new UK Council on Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) to look at better regulation and improve education and awareness. ISPA and many members have accepted invitations to sit on the Council and ISPA sits on various UKCCIS working groups.
BEST COMMON PRACTICE GUIDANCE & BACKGROUNDERS
WORK WITH GOVERNMENT