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 Internet01:41 - The Launch of Parent Line13:47 - Advocating for Online Safety in Broadband Services21:12 - The Importance of Granular Parental Controls28:33 - Digital Inclusion and Accessibility39:24 - Empowering Parents for Online Safetyhttps://www.gigabitiq.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mashood-ahmad-gigabitiq/https://www.linkedin.com/company/gigabit-iqhttps://www.facebook.com/GigabitIQhttps://www.instagram.com/gigabit_iq/https://x.com/GigabitIQhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gigabitiqhttps://www.youtube.com/@GigabitIQhttps://bsky.app/profile/gigabitiq.bsky.socialhttps://mastodon.social/@GigabitIQhttps://www.parentline.ukShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learninghttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieseducationonfire.com/support