New Zealand: Adopted Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System Code of Practice

On 1 June 2022, New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs adopted the Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System (DCEFS) Code of Practice addressed to Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The initiative is designed to prevent access to websites containing child sexual abuse material, thereby reducing the market for such material and contributing to a safer online environment. Participation by ISPs is voluntary, as New Zealand law does not mandate connection to the system. The DCEFS operates alongside enforcement activities, including online investigations and coordination with other agencies to take down objectionable websites. The system does not remove illegal content but blocks access to it, complementing international efforts to combat the trade in child sexual abuse material.