Over 8,000 attempts to access Porn & other “banned websites” in governments cabinet offices last year

The Cabinet Office stopped over 8,000 attempts to access banned websites including pornography on its computer networks last year.

The information gathered by the Metro through an FOI(Freedom of Information Act) request showed people in Whitehall tried to access explicit websites such as Xvideos a total of 343 times in 2020.

XHamster, received 188 attempts and 11 more for its ‘live’ service, whilst three attempts were made to access cheats’ portal Ashley Maddison in addition to the dozens more for services advertising webcam models. Some Whitehall guest had external plans it seems with adult content and meeting services site FabSwingers tried a total of 171 times.

However it was Pornhub which was the fan favourite in the government building with a total of 356 attempts made to access the site.

Some blocked sites seemed fairly harmless like the searches of a furniture shop in north London, a Chinese takeaway in Essex, a blog belonging to a children’s storybook illustrator, customer service reviews of Sainsbury’s groceries, a pottery parlour site in Kent and a travel guide to Malaga.

There was however one specific URL who’s content remains a mystery that generated 974 efforts.

Ironically the governments love of all things pornographic comes as House of Lords peer Baroness Floella Benjamin calls for tighter curbs on online pornography.

In a response to the FOI request, the Cabinet Office said: ‘All blocked attempts are monitored and any follow up investigations and actions were subject to the appropriate local processes and procedures.’

No further details were offered citing a need for the department to investigate the web browsing without compromise.