Sky to begin default filtering of The Cloud Wi-Fi service

Adult content will be automatically filtered on The Cloud's Wi-Fi network from next month.

Sky has announced its public Wi-Fi service, The Cloud, will begin filtering adult content as standard from October.

The move means shops, venues and other commercial buildings covered by The Cloud's network that want to protect children from accessing inappropriate material online will have their wireless broadband filtered automatically.

"We believe this will give parents the peace of mind that when their children access content over Sky networks outside the home, where we can't offer individual parental controls, they will be similarly protected as when in the home," explained Lyssa McGowan, Sky's brand director for communications products.

The Cloud will be the first Wi-Fi operator in the UK to take this step.

In addition, the internet service provider (ISP) unveiled more stringent measures to protect youngsters using home broadband connections.

From October, Sky will offer 'active choice plus', which will see all broadband customers asked whether they want to activate parental controls, with the 'yes' button highlighted as the default option.

Each of the UK's four biggest ISPs - BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media - published a code of practice last October that states their commitment to giving parents an active choice on blocking adult content.