BT has announced it is taking precautionary measures to ensure that homeless people don't use its new Link WiFi kiosks to watch porn.
The telecoms provider said that Link kiosks in the UK will NOT have web browsers, unlike the ones that were installed in New York City earlier this year.
The operator of the New York kiosks, Intersection, was forced to disable the web-browsing feature last month , after reports of unsavory types congregating around the booths to watch porn, and even masturbating in public.
"The kiosks were never intended for anyone's extended, personal use," Intersection said at the time.
Now BT has announced that Link kiosks will open on major high streets across London next year, with other UK cities to follow, replacing hundreds of BT's existing phone boxes.
The kiosks will have a touchscreen tablet with free access to maps, directions, and local services and free UK national landline and mobile calls.
"LinkUK from BT will benefit from everything Intersection have learned about deploying hundreds of Links with thousands of users in New York," said BT spokesperson Yusuf King.
"In NYC web browsers have been removed and short-term use has increased more than 12% and 700,000 people have registered to use the Wi-Fi. Complaints from long-term users are down 96% in NYC since the browsers were removed."
He added that the advantage of the software-based Links, as opposed to the hardware-based phone boxes, is that BT can make adjustments and respond to feedback quickly.
That means if anyone is found to be abusing the service, BT can easily make changes.
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