Britain's Home Office is in trouble because of its radio advertising spot telling kids how to stay safe online.
The problem came after the HO launched its new site, only to fall foul with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) which banned the ad after a listener was apparently mis-directed to a porn site.
“The problem arose over the spelling of the Web site, www. thinkuknow.co.uk,” says Reuters. “The listener had called up thinkyouknow.co.uk - with an extra 'y' and 'o' - and had found that site contained links to adult material.”
Er, Yes. But thinkyouknow is one of those generic sites featuring everything from web hosting, cars, gifts, personal financing and computers, to health and beauty. But no porn, at least, not in plain sight. In fact, you'd almost have a better chance of finding it via a typo on Google.
It is, however, there, deeply buried under People Search .
'Dating' is one of the categories, together with Personals, Background check, Chat and Singles. And under dating are such goodies as “Wealthy Men Only Elite Dating: Members inc. Glamour Models, Playmates & Centerfolds” and "Look Sexy Naked - Who Else Wants a Slimmer Sexier Body Super Fast?”
“The Home Office/Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) advert was broadcast on 96 Trent FM with the message 'what you say online isn't always what a paedophile hears. Giving out personal information could let a paedophile track you down',” says Reuters.
CEOP, "told the standards authority it was aware of the potential for error but believed teenagers were accustomed to using abbreviations such as 'u' in text messages and e-mails," says the story, adding:
"It noted that the inappropriate material on the other site was at least four clicks away from the home page and that by then any user would have realised they had made a mistake."
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