Council's internet filter slammed

A council has been told that it could face legal action for blocking its workers from looking at atheist websites.

Software used by Birmingham City Council stops employees from accessing sites about atheist beliefs, but sites about conventional religions are readily available.

The National Secular Society said that such filtering was discriminatory and it may take legal action against the council unless it changes its policy.

The society's president Terry Sanderson described the blocking of atheistic websites as "slightly deranged".

He said: "It's an open-and-shut case of discrimination as far as we're concerned. If you can access religious sites you should be able to access sites for non-religious people.

"We've taken legal advice from our barrister and she tells us quite clearly that there is no justification for it."

Under the Bluecoat Software computer system, sites may be available at any time, not at all, or only outside working hours, he said.

The filter means staff may look at websites relating to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and other conventional religions as they wish.

However sites relating to "witchcraft or Satanism" and "occult practices, atheistic views, voodoo rituals or any other form of mysticism" are blocked, as are sites concerning Wicca, the alternative religion associated with witchcraft.

A spokeswoman for Birmingham City Council would not comment on the threat of legal action.

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