Sky is switching on porn filters by default from 2016

All new and existing customers will get an email asking if they want to turn the filter on - if ignored, it will be turned on automatically

Sky Broadband said customers could opt-out if they wanted to (Getty Images)

Sky Broadband is to switch on its porn filters by default for all new customers from 2016.

The company announced the decision would lead to "much greater use of home filters", but said customers could opt-out if they wanted to.

Two years ago, David Cameron announced plans for every home in the UK to have pornography blocked by their internet providers unless the homeowner specifically opted-in to be able to view adult content.

Sky Broadband launched its content filtering product Broadband Shield in November 2013. It is programmed to automatically block content unsuitable for those under 18 until 9pm.

However, a year later only 3 per cent of its existing customers had opted to switch it on, the BBC reports.

Now, existing customers will get an email asking if they want to turn the filter on.

If ignored, the filter will be turned on automatically, providing what Sky calls an "unavoidable decision".

Figures by Ofcom suggest that by June this year, 30 per cent of Sky customers had left content filters switched none, while 15 per cent of BT, Virgin Media and TalkTalk had switched theirs on.

A survey of British broadband subscribers in September found just 24 per cent of households had allowed their internet provider to block pornographic content.