First 4 Internet
Press release
3 May 200
First 4 Internet launches
Image Composition Analysis software version 1.8.1 to protect
PC users from pornographic images
First 4 Internet, a UK-based developer of advanced software,
announces in a product demonstration the launch of its Image
Composition Analysis (ICA) software. This new technology is
designed to protect organisations and individuals from pornographic
images. Its accuracy means it can even differentiate between
an artistic nude and a pornographic photograph.
A recent report by Sextracker found that 70% of pornography
is downloaded from the Internet between 9am and 5pm of the working
day. This indicates that businesses can suffer serious losses
in productivity from misuse of the Internet. Recent cases of
employee dismissal involving large corporations also highlight
the legal implications of the distribution of pornographic images
in offices.
First 4 Internet's software is helping to protect against pornographic
imagery being sent over email servers. Recent reports by TesCom,
the leading independent software testing company, concluded
that First 4 Internet's ICA software prevents 95% of pornographic
images from reaching the computer screen and confirmed that
it can scan more than 20 images per second (based on a test
of 3,000 images over a server). Similar tests reveal that other
technologies can only achieve accuracy of 67%.
"ICA is a breakthrough in the fight against intentional and accidental
misuse of the Internet," says Mathew Gilliat-Smith, managing
director of First 4 Internet. "It gives employees, businesses
and the government the necessary tool to combat the growing
threat from pornographic images."
ICA differs from other filter technologies by intensively analysing
the images on a number of different levels. It uses over 22,000
different algorithms to assess wide-ranging content without
interrupting the flow of acceptable information. First 4 Internet
is also developing ICA products for Internet images, CD-ROM
or disc material and web-surfing, both in a commercial and home
environment.
About First 4 Internet
First 4 Internet is a UK-based developer of advanced software
applications. The company headquarters are in Banbury with regional
offices in Cardiff and London and was founded in November 1999.
First 4 Internet's partners include SurfControl and Messagelabs.
First 4 Internet also provides community building software for
brand leaders such as Kellogg's.
Notes to editors -
Internet pornography dismissals
August 2000: Orange (BBC1 September 2000) sacked "up to 40"
workers for downloading pornography from the Internet
October 2000: Merrill Lynch (The Times, 14th October 2000) 15 traders
and staff dismissed after they were caught circulating pornography
on the internal e-mail system.
November 2000: Cable & Wireless (Ananova, referencing Birmingham
Evening Mail, 29th November 2000) 6 staff sacked at the Birmingham
office of Cable & Wireless.
January 2001: Royal Sun Alliance (Daily Telegraph, BBC 5th January 2001)
10 people sacked and over 77 suspended over distribution of
cartoon of Bart Simpson in pornographic pose.
BBC 11th January - suspended employees reinstated, sacked ones
appealing against dismissal.
January 2001: Ford (BBC, 17th January 2001) 3 workers suspended on suspicion
of accessing pornographic material on the Internet.
March 2001: IT consultancy Kelros (The Register, 2nd March 2001) Female
computer consultant Tao Ball won tribunal against former boss
Marc Garcia for unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination,
having been the unwilling recipient of pornographic images.
For further information, please contact:
Sam Page/Katherine Elmore-Jones
Herald Communications
+44 (0) 20 7 340 6300
[email protected]
/
[email protected]
Mathew Gilliat-Smith
First 4 Internet Ltd
+ 44 1295 255777
[email protected]