Coffee giant Starbucks is failing to filter out pornography from its free in-store wi-fi, leading to concerns about children accessing inappropriate material.
The coffee chain was warned over a year ago about the problem but still has not rectified the situation.
Baroness Massey, a former chairman of the Family Planning Association, highlighted the issue in the House of Lords and called on the Government to remind “high street companies of their duties to protect our children”.
Obscene
She cautioned: “In Starbucks anyone can have full access to anything the internet has to offer including the most obscene websites.”
Baroness Massey said that McDonald’s had “told its wi-fi supplier that it did not want customers coming in to bring up pornographic images that people sitting on nearby tables may see”.
She asked: “How many other high street brands take a similar responsible view?”
Solution
Speaking for the Government, Viscount Younger of Leckie said he was “alarmed”. He said the issue would “certainly” be followed up to “find out what can be done to resolve that”.
A spokesman for Starbucks said it was “working on a solution” with BT which provides the wi-fi.
BT commented that since some retailers now offer internet access for free “the need for parental controls has developed”.
Vulnerable
In September a top neuroscientist warned that pornography may lead to lasting damage to children’s brains.
Baroness Susan Greenfield said that “the young brain, because it is still developing, is vulnerable”.
She points to evidence from research that shows lasting effects from early exposure to porn.