Starbucks to block porn on stores’ Wi-Fi networks

Starbucks is rolling out a new tool that will stop US customers from using its free in-store Wi-Fi to watch pornography.

In a statement, the coffee giant said: "While it rarely occurs, the use of Starbucks public Wi-Fi to view illegal or egregious content is not, nor has it ever been permitted. We have identified a solution to prevent this content from being viewed within our stores and we will begin introducing it to our US locations in 2019."

Starbucks declined to provide more details on the solution but said that it had tested multiple tools as it wants to avoid accidentally blocking unoffensive sites. The move comes after a petition from internet safety group Enough is Enough attracted more than 26,000 signatures. It claimed public Wi-Fi networks "are attracting paedophiles and sex offenders”.

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