Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Mark Pawelek (letter, 11 September) wrongly describes me as a "censor". I am not.
The Internet Watch Foundation does play a part in getting material which is plainly illegal removed from UK servers, but surely Mr Pawelek has no objection to that? I do also favour giving parents, teachers, employers and children themselves, the knowledge and the power to determine what sort of material might come into their home, office or classroom. That does not make me "pro-censorship". It makes me "pro-choice". You will never stop people publishing whatever they like on the Internet, but you ought to be able to intervene to protect yourself and your loved ones from unwanted intrusions. The sorts of tools we have at our disposal now to do this are woefully inadequate and IWF is working to improve them.
Mr Pawelek tells us there are only a "few idiots" who abuse the system. I wonder if Mr Pawelek would feel quite so charitable towards the "idiots" if one of his children became the victim of a paedophile whom he or she first met on the Internet.
JOHN CARR
London N19
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments