The safeguarding arm of the London Grid for Learning (LGfL) has begun to work with police to prevent school computers being used to access inappropriate or illegal website content.
LGfL Digisafe has come to an agreement with City of London Police to block all websites on the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit’s (PIPCU) Infringing Website List (IWL).
This will prevent computers belonging to LGFL’s 3,000 member schools from entering pirate sites and save them from any possible legal repercussions from using content that breaks copyright.
The operation came into force early last month, and involves PIPCU providing LGfL Digisafe with a regularly updated blacklist of websites that it provides to school systems administrators to block access.
A spokesperson told UKAuthority the team is currently working on an API to enable automatic updates.
Online safety and safeguarding manager at LGfL DigiSafe, Mark Bentley, commented: “LGfL DigiSafe is committed to partnering with relevant stakeholders in order to achieve our mission of saving schools money and keeping children safe.
“By working with City of London police to block its List of Infringing Websites to our community of over 2 million students we not only prevent children accessing inappropriate material, but also provide reassurance to senior leaders that this illegal activity cannot be committed on the school site, meaning headteachers do not need to fear liability for copyright infringements.”
LGfL is the not-for-profit provider of technology and internet services to schools, primarily within the London area. PIPCU is a specialist unit within the City of London Police funded by the UK Government Intellectual Property Office.
Image from LGfL
