Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) has announced plans to install porn website filters that will prevent customers from accessing porn through its Wi-Fi.
A spokesperson from the firm recently confirmed to CNN that Starbucks was planning to install the porn filters in its coffee shops. The announcement comes after a similar decision was made by McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD). The latter reported that it activated Wi-Fi filtering in most of its restaurants. The move comes after a campaign demanding restaurant chains to block pornographic sites. The campaign was carried out by two anti-pornography groups known as National Center on Sexual Exploitation and Enough is Enough. Since it was pushed by an outside group rather than Starbucks or McDonald’s customers, it is unclear if the move will help either company financially, though it might.
Donna Rice Hughes who is the current president of Enough is Enough applauded the two companies for honoring the campaign. Hughes also stated that they would widen the scope of the campaign so that businesses and other locations offering free Wi-Fi can also filter their Wi-Fi services. McDonalds and Starbucks are not the only chains that have implemented Wi-Fi filters against porn websites. The National Center for Sexual Exploitation reported that other chains such as Chick-fil-A and Panera Bread Co. (NASDAQ:PNRA) have already employed filters to block porn.
Porn filters are also used in restaurants in other countries. In Canada, restaurant chains such as Second Cup and Tim Hortons have already employed filters for their Wi-Fi networks. However, such filters have also been subject to controversy. A few years ago, Tim Horton was in the spotlight after its filters prevented access to websites such as LGBTQ news sites and DailyXtra.com. The chain had to offer an apology to the users and unblock the sites.
The anti-pornography campaigns aim to advocate for more family-friendly content especially in places such as restaurants. Their aim is to help overcome social vices such as pornography which have become easily accessible to everyone. Targeting businesses could be a good business idea because pornography causes employees to lose focus. Filtering such content in business places may help in boosting productivity.
