McDonald's reviews ban on gay websites

McDonald's New Zealand said it was reviewing its internet access policies after gay groups complained the fast-food giant was blocking their websites from its Wi-Fi network.

Gay lifestyle website GayNZ.com sparked the review when it published an open letter condemning McDonald's for "censoring" the free Wi-Fi access it introduced in its 132 restaurants last month.

It said GayNZ and other sites offering advice and resources to the gay community were barred, preventing access to information that could be "extremely valuable, even life saving, for young people".
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"There is a difference between sexuality and sex. Perhaps your censors do not understand this?" the website said.

McDonald's said it barred gambling, tobacco and adult websites from its Wi-Fi service because it was a family restaurant chain and all content it allowed must be suitable for children to view.

The company said this extended to sites where clicking on links and third-party advertisements could provide access to sexually explicit material.

"However, we might not always get our filtering process right, and we're absolutely happy to review websites on a case by case basis, if our customers believe that sites have been unjustifiably blocked," it said in a statement.

Rainbow Youth executive director Tom Hamilton said there was no inappropriate content on the organisation's website, which offers support services to gay and lesbian youths.

"Obviously there is a flaw in [McDonald's] approach. Websites like Rainbow Youth are not of any danger to young people," he told Radio NZ.

News Source : Anonym zu www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/mcdonalds-reviews-ban-on-gay-websites-20110111-19luy.html

I personally don't find anything wrong with McDonald's approach. Of course gay web sites are going to get caught in the filter! Even if they are not objectionable, it's very likely that they would link to sites that are. McDonald's isn't judging them - this is just a piece of technology. The fact that they are willing to review and make an exception for a gay site that is being unnecessarily filtered is exactly the right response.

It Is the In germany no acces to gayromeo.com oder planetromeo.com from germany mc McDonald's Bench

well... most of these sites have pictures of sexual/erotic nature
(such and semi and not so semi naked man)
for example - on gayromeo some of the pictures of other profiles might lead to pictures of penises and active sex acts
which is agreed that is inappropriate on a public domain

The GayNZ site is very commercial, with quite a few advertisements, including one for a gay 'sauna'. I take it 'sauna' is a euphemism of some kind! By the looks of it, this commercial site is simply 'cashing in' on all the inevitable publicity, i.e. exploiting the issue of gay rights! On this basic I would say the decision by McD's to ban this and other similar sites is in order.