Chat room abuse fears spark Yahoo change

Web portal Yahoo has changed the chat rooms which UK users can access in order to better monitor them for abuse.

The company has introduced new software to its UK chat room section which limits users to accessing organised UK rooms only. Previously, users could enter all English language rooms - such as racy US-hosted facilities covering adult topics - or create their own.

A Yahoo spokeswoman said the change was designed to make its UK service more localised, and to improve the enforcement of chat room terms and conditions of use.

Following its UK review, the portal is also recruiting a social policy specialist with the remit of looking at the use of Yahoo's communication services on an ongoing basis.

The spokeswoman conceded that the portal had taken advice from children's rights groups over concerns of chat room abuse as part of the review. Activists have been lobbying internet companies such as Yahoo to become more proactive in stamping out online paedophile activity.

Ruth Dixon, deputy chief executive of the Internet Watch Foundation, said: "[Yahoo] made significant progress to protect their younger users in the terms of yahoo.co.uk. It would excellent to see these measures extended across their global network."

"We'd also recommend that other chat services examine what they offer in order to protect their younger users in this manner," she added.

Last year, Patrick Green was jailed for having unlawful sex with a minor whom he met in a chat room. Later this week, members of the internet-based 'Wonderland Club' paedophile ring are due to be sentenced.