Digital Seatbelts: Making Broadband Safer for Children with Network-Level Parental Controls

Mashood Ahmad is the CEO and founder of Gigabit IQ, an award-winning UK broadband provider dedicated to delivering safer, smarter, and faster internet through fully managed Wi-Fi and industry-leading online safety tools. A recognised voice in digital inclusion and child online protection, Mashood is a Council Member at ISPA UK and a vocal advocate for stronger ISP accountability in protecting families online.

Under Mashood’s leadership, Gigabit IQ has pioneered services like FamilyGuard+, a network-level parental control solution designed to meet the real-world needs of modern families. He has spearheaded initiatives supporting vulnerable communities, including children in care, refugees, and low-income households, through fair access broadband and safety education.

Mashood is the author of the white paper “Beyond the Act: The Hidden Layer of Online Harm No One’s Regulating”, which challenges current UK online safety legislation and proposes a new national ISP Safety Rating System, akin to NCAP for cars or Ofsted for schools.

A frequent speaker on digital safety, Mashood is leading an Online Safety & ISP Accountability session at the UK Internet Parliament Conference with ISPA, and continues to work with regulators, MPs, and safety groups to shape a safer digital future for all.

Takeaways:

• The introduction of digital safety measures is akin to implementing seat belts in cars, enhancing Internet safety.
• Gigabit IQ aims to provide parental controls that ensure children access only age-appropriate online content.
• The company's initiative, Parent Line, offers parents guidance on navigating online safety and concerns.
• Faster Internet speeds necessitate enhanced safety protocols to protect children from harmful online content.
• Gigabit IQ advocates for industry-wide parental controls, empowering parents to safeguard their children online.
• Digital inclusion is essential; broadband should be accessible to all communities, regardless of their location.

Chapters:

• 00:17 - Digital Safety in the Age of the Internet
• 01:41 - The Launch of Parent Line
• 13:47 - Advocating for Online Safety in Broadband Services
• 21:12 - The Importance of Granular Parental Controls
• 28:33 - Digital Inclusion and Accessibility
• 39:24 - Empowering Parents for Online Safety

https://www.gigabitiq.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mashood-ahmad-gigabitiq/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/gigabit-iq

https://www.facebook.com/GigabitIQ

https://www.instagram.com/gigabit_iq/

https://x.com/GigabitIQ

https://www.tiktok.com/@gigabitiq

https://www.youtube.com/@GigabitIQ

https://bsky.app/profile/gigabitiq.bsky.social

https://mastodon.social/@GigabitIQ

https://www.parentline.uk

Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/

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