back to article Jeremy Hunt: Telcos must block teens from sexting each other

The likes of Facebook must stop under-18s from sending each other sexually explicit pictures, UK health secretary Jeremy Hunt has told a Parliamentary committee. Giving evidence to the Health Select Committee about suicide prevention yesterday, Hunt demanded that social media companies must take responsibility for stopping …

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  1. JimmyPage Silver badge
    FAIL

    The guy really does define "moron" doesn't he ?

    1. g e

      Jeremy Hunt

      Is a stupid .....

      The clues are in the name ;o)

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Jeremy Hunt

        "The clues are in the name"

        A BBC "Today" programme presenter made that Freudian slip - live on air.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Jeremy Hunt

          That slip has been made a few times. Youtube has most of them.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Jeremy Hunt

          "A BBC "Today" programme presenter made that Freudian slip - live on air."

          It's only a Freudian slip if it's inappropriate, which is not so in this case.

          (The other definition of Freudian slip is what Lucien Freud's models usually weren't wearing.)

          1. VinceH

            Re: Jeremy Hunt

            "It's only a Freudian slip if it's inappropriate, which is not so in this case."

            I think you'll find it's a Freudian slip if it's appropriate rather than inappropriate, or more precisely reveals what you really think. i.e. if people think he's a berk, and accidentally call him Jeremy Berk instead of Jeremy Hunt.

            We don't know if that's what those who have accidentally mispronounced the H as a C really think, though. We can only speculate.

      2. Anonymous Blowhard

        Re: Jeremy Hunt

        He's a right Jeremy, that's what he is...

      3. JLV

        Re: Jeremy Hunt

        Perhaps he could even change his first name to Mike to make it more obvious.

        How much money would be spent, for what benefit? This from a supposedly right-of-center government?

        I do favor tough punishments in cases where someone does revenge or blackmail porn. Including when minors do it to other minors.

        But that's not the same thing as putting up huge guardrails at great cost to protect people from their own stupidity, is it?

        1. Dave 15

          Re: Jeremy Hunt

          The people who will benefit are almost certainly offshore software houses who will charge billions for failing (like they did with the nhs system). The fact that many of the MPs best friends have shares in these companies is purely coincidental and doesnt need declaring to anyone... anymore than the thankyou christmas presents that just by coincidence include massively expensive family holidays etc.

          Corrupt... you bet, just better hidden than most third world dictatorships

      4. bobblestiltskin

        Re: Jeremy Hunt

        Waddock Hunt?

    2. You aint sin me, roit
      Trollface

      It sounds like he wants "mandatory under 18 dick pic identification".

      Is there an app for that?

      1. g e

        Delivered to his inbox, no doubt

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      s/H/C

      and you have what I think of him and he's my local MP.

    4. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      "The guy really does define "moron" doesn't he ?"

      I wish to register a complaint. On behalf of morons everywhere.

    5. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      I was at the Doctors Surgery yesterday and I said I felt sorry for them having JH as their Minister/Secretary of State for Health. I pointed out what a wonderful person he'd been at the DCMS and how well his vanity project the Local TV stations* were doing**. I was only able to have a blood sample taken after we'd both stopped laughing.

      * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Local_television_channels_in_the_United_Kingdom

      **https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/sep/09/london-live-local-content-channel-4-5-ofcom

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Childcatcher

    Won't someone think of the children !

    So we can continue justifying our snooping efforts...

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Presumably this is more "think of the children" stuff to justify extending compulsory age verification from the porn sites used to justify the law to now include social networks. And what could possibly be wrong with forcing Facebook et al to semantically scan every message posted, in case one of those teens tries to write something dirty?

  4. jason 7

    What planet do these people live on?

    How can you take on a position of power/responsibility and not have a clue about how the modern world around you actually works?

    1. Just Enough

      Re: What planet do these people live on?

      This has nothing to do with how the modern world works. This is how teenagers work, and have done since forever. And idiots like Hunt have always been trying, and failing, to change this.

      Quite simply the government cannot legislate the removal of hormones from teenagers. Just like you cannot tell them that their body is illegal, they do not own their phone's camera, and they cannot be doing anything with either without the government's permission.

      Apart from that, I can think of a good half dozen ways that this could be easily circumvented. Even if the tech was foolproof, which it isn't.

      1. jason 7

        Re: What planet do these people live on?

        Yeah that was my point.

    2. Dan 55 Silver badge

      Re: What planet do these people live on?

      How can you take on a position of power/responsibility and not have a clue about how the modern world around you actually works?

      By studying PPE at Oxford university and joining the Oxford University Conservative Association, along with Bojo and Cameron.

      1. Cynical Observer

        Re: What planet do these people live on?

        @Dan 55

        By studying PPE at Oxford university and joining the Oxford University Conservative Association*, along with Bojo and Cameron.

        *Other political parties are available - Labour,New Labour and the Lib Dems have a fair smattering of candidates as well - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_University_of_Oxford_people_with_PPE_degrees

        Imagine being as radical as Canada and appointing cabinet members who have some real life experience in the subject that thy are responsible for e.g. Farmers in agriculture, Lawyers in Justice and an academic as Minister of Science......

        And you do have to smile at the logic behind choice of Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. He was a Queens Scout.

        1. Triggerfish

          Re: What planet do these people live on?

          This is how teenagers work, and have done since forever.

          Exactly, whats he doing next week, sitting on a beach in Brighton and telling the tide to stay out?

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: What planet do these people live on?

            "Exactly, whats he doing next week, sitting on a beach in Brighton and telling the tide to stay out?"

            Well he has form, the other guy who tried that was also Cnut ....

          2. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: What planet do these people live on?

            "whats he doing next week, sitting on a beach in Brighton and telling the tide to stay out?"

            Talk to one of the pro-Brexit idiots politicians and you'll find them demanding the tide stays out and goes back where it came from ...

        2. Loud Speaker

          Re: What planet do these people live on?

          Presumably "Personal Protection Equipment" has a meaning I am not familiar with, not having attended Oxford University.

          1. Dan 55 Silver badge

            Re: What planet do these people live on?

            PPEs wearing PPEs

          2. teebie

            Re: What planet do these people live on?

            PPE is an abbreviation for porcine penile engulfment

        3. Dave 15

          Re: What planet do these people live on?

          Its all about the old boys network.

          Sure you are only 40 but we will give you a job running an international bank because you are 'so experienced'... ooh, you sunk the bank? Never mind, now you have even more experience (and a huge pension pot) why not let us put you in charge of a retail chemist chain... obviously the experience is relevant! Similar occurs at the top of government.

          But try this...

          I have 20 years coding and 15 years project managing secure, embedded consumer product.... but try getting a job in a bank... ooh no, you have no experience in banking, or perhaps in defense... ooh no, no experience in defense... (yeah, but I did get my degree from the military...)

          Yup, one rule for the old boys and another for the rest of us scum

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: What planet do these people live on?

      We have to remember that these people are politicians (all those in parliament) that have never done any real work out in the world and live off our taxes.

      1. Danny 14

        Re: What planet do these people live on?

        There have been a few independents that have stood out.

    4. This post has been deleted by its author

    5. Fungus Bob

      Re: What planet do these people live on?

      "How can you take on a position of power/responsibility and not have a clue about how the modern world around you actually works?"

      Haven't you heard? Facts don't matter.

      1. Dave 15

        Re: What planet do these people live on?

        The glib answer is ask a politician, but they actually think they now their arse from their elbow...

  5. Alan Bourke

    "Because there is technology that can identify sexually explicit pictures "

    No there isn't you absolute Tory tit end.

    1. Simon Harris
      Coat

      Re: "Because there is technology that can identify sexually explicit pictures "

      Was there really no headline picture of Jeremy Hunt to go with this story?

      Or did El Reg's automated explicit image detector block it for being a picture of a complete twat?

    2. Richard 81

      Re: "Because there is technology that can identify sexually explicit pictures "

      Some poor teenager is going to find themselves banged up for sending a foodie of their bangers and mash dinner.

      1. Simon Harris

        Re: "Because there is technology that can identify sexually explicit pictures "

        "a foodie of their bangers and mash dinner."

        If Esther Rantzen was still doing That's Life, the unusual shaped vegetable section would send the obscene image detector into a frenzy.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: "Because there is technology that can identify sexually explicit pictures "

        That's exactly it, sending pics of his meat and two veg.

    3. Brewster's Angle Grinder Silver badge
      Coat

      Re: "Because there is technology that can identify sexually explicit pictures "

      "No there isn't"

      Oh there is. The false positives are through the roof. The false negatives, likewise. But it does occasionally permit a legitimate image or block an explicit one.

      Mine's the one with the pocket full of training images for my smut filter, thanks.

      1. Dave 15

        Re: "Because there is technology that can identify sexually explicit pictures "

        I know it is pantomime season.... its behind you (does a behind count as a sexually explicit.... no, dont start, dont go there, stupid stupid comment)

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    He should think more about the children dying as he fcuks up the NHS

    Tosser.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: He should think more about the children dying as he fcuks up the NHS

      He's letting French Connection have franchises in NHS Hospitals?!!?! Typical fucking money grabbing Tory. Though I'm not sure how that kills children......

  7. tfewster
    Facepalm

    He said_______We say

    "I ask myself..."_Try asking someone who knows about technical stuff

    "I think..."______He doesn't

    "...I do think..."__He really doesn't

    1. Dazed and Confused

      > "I think..."______He doesn't

      Not just "doesn't" more a case of "can't"

      1. BlartVersenwaldIII
        Coat

        > more a case of "can't"

        Oh so close...

        1. Phil W

          "Can't think Won't think" the game show where contestants have to categorise politicians and celebrities into those that are terminally stupid and those who have a brain but are thoroughly ignorant.

  8. kryptonaut
    Unhappy

    This country

    This country is being run by a bunch of self-serving arrogant fuckwits. The alternative lot are no better. The Lib-dems seem to speak sense but nobody votes for them.

    If I didn't have family here I'd consider jumping ship at this point.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: This country

      It's all sound-bite policy. It doesn't matter if it's a complete pile of horse pucky, as long as it sounds good and makes for a good headline, they'll go for it.

    2. nichomach

      Re: This country

      The Lib-Dems speak sense until someone gives them a sniff of actual power, at which point they throw sense out of the window and fall into line with whoever's wafting it their way - witness the government we have now, which they are *directly* responsible for. Pointless bunch of oxygen thieves.

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