EU looks for child abuse images block

The European Union said it was planning to create a "global alliance" to tackle child abuse images online, including the provision to block websites.

The pressure is on countries to sign up to an as-yet ill-defined approach, although the approach has already been criticised by civil rights groups who fear an emotive issue will be used to introduce controls that can easily be expanded into other areas.

Blocking has been shown to provide no real protection, critics argue. Regardless, the issue is being discussed at high political levels.