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Original poster

Mumsnet and Mc Donalds blocking websites which discuss atheism

7 replies

DebbieCultard77 · 24/05/2012 09:02

I must admit that I am rather liberal in my out look on life and can appreciate that some might raise concerns with websites which challenge young Christian Muslim children, but I feel that this is slightly inappropriate.

imgur.com/a/wWbmA

I would welcome your thoughts.

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MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 24/05/2012 11:50

Hello. We've just spotted this.

We'll make some enquiries and come back to you when we've found out more.

Thanks for raising this.

We'll move this thread to Site stuff now - as that's probably the better place for it.

MNHQ

carriemumsnet · 24/05/2012 18:01

Thanks so much for raising this it is really good to have thoughts from folks on this issue. Mumsnet Family Friendly Wi Fi is all about making sure that parents know whether any filters are in place and if they aren't, being in a position to decide whether or not to let their kids access public WiFi (as opposed to 3G access which you can still do anywhere set up to individual requirements) in that location. It definitely isn?t about blocking access to gay sites or atheist sites and if that is happening we would want to hear from Mumsnetters so that we can raise it with the Family Friendly WiFi member and get their response.

What we ask retailers to consider appropriate filters for their customers and if they want to carry Family Friendly WiFi status they need to block over 18 pornography just as we would ask retailers to put adult magazines on the top shelf. We know filtering isn't right in all places and we don't expect all places to want FF WiFi but we think that it helps parents to know whether filters are there or not. What is really hard for places to decide is exactly what to filter. Filters aren't perfect so sometimes they catch things that shouldn't be caught and miss stuff that you want to filter. We spent time with McDonalds to understand their system and their approach to filtering. It is incredibly carefully thought through and sophisticated with the ability to correct mistakes when something is blocked that shouldn't be. So if you feel there's a site they are currently blacklisting that should be whitelisted, you can get in touch and they'll consider it. We think it's a step forward for parents to be given the information to make an informed choice about public WiFi and as far as filtering goes we know it's really tricky but we still thought it was worth trying.

We've been in touch with MacDonalds and one of the key folks who worked in this with us is away but they plan to respond asap.

Thanks again for posting.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 25/05/2012 14:46

Hello. We've been in touch with McDonald's about this and they've asked us to post up this response from them:

'Thank you for your comments and for bringing this to our attention. We are sorry for any offence or confusion caused by this filtering error.

'At McDonald's, our customer experience is very important to us and we know that the free WiFi we offer in all 1,200 of our UK restaurants is an important part of this. McDonald's is a family-friendly restaurant and we use category filtering across our public internet service to ensure that we provide as appropriate an experience as possible, considering the broad range of customers who visit our restaurants.

'However, we are always looking to refine and improve this filtering process because, as we're sure you can imagine, it is not easy to correctly categorise every website that exists, and we do have to rely on computer systems to aid us with this. We are currently changing WiFi providers and a product of this transition will be a more intelligent filtering system that will help eliminate instances of inaccurate website categorisation such as this.

'We are halfway through this process which we hope, when completed, will improve the experience for all our customers, but, until then, please do continue contact us with any other examples of website filtering that you feel to be misguided, and we will be happy to look into them for you.'

MNHQ

Vickimumsnet · 31/05/2012 14:10

Hi. Just wanted to let you know that we are on it! I have placed a call in to the person responsible for IT at McDonalds and as soon as he gets back to me I will post an update on the reason for them blocking that site. Please bear with me whilst I get to an answer Thanks

MNHQ

Vickimumsnet · 01/06/2012 08:29

Hi Again - thanks for waiting :)

I have spoken to McDonalds and the position is that they are currently in the process of moving to a new WiFi provider. Under the previous provider, they were only able to block at category level pre set by the provider. Part of the reason for moving to a new provider was to give them the flexibility to block and unblock bespoke to McD's. It was this new service that impressed us so much because it gives them the ability to respond when sites are blocked that shouldn't be. (Their new provider is O2 another one of our FF members). Over 700 of their restaurants have already moved to O2 and if you try to access the site discussed in this thread you would find it wasn't blocked. However, because of the less sophisticated previous WI Fi offer, if you try to access it in a restaurant that hasn't migrated to the O2 WiFi you would find it was still blocked because McD's can't lift the filter at their end under the old provider (sorry this is getting a bit convoluted but you hopefully see where I'm coming from :) They are working as quickly as they can to migrate all their rest. to the new provider. I hope that clarifies. Please keep the feedback coming - part of the whole reason for the entire FF programme is to keep pushing providers, retailers, restaurants and the world at large to respond to what parents need. To get into the real detail of FFliness beyond the baby changing mats and primary colours (lovely though those are). It isn't straight forward but then we never thought it would be - any help from you guys is always mucho appreciated :) Thanks lots and have a lovely bank holiday weekend - rain or no rain! Vicki

MNHQ

Vickimumsnet · 01/06/2012 08:30

Do I get fined for too many emoticons......I really I am looking a bit smiley in that post. Sorry!

MNHQ

Vickimumsnet · 01/06/2012 08:30

and that should have said realise Blush

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