Card companies continue to take a hard line against online child abuse, campaigning to ensure that no UK company profits from child pornography on the Internet. APACS' members ensure that businesses are subject to tough checks before they are able to accept card payments online and they continue to make ongoing checks after businesses have been accepted.

Acquiring banks undertake a number of security checks prior to recruiting a merchant and, where they believe that the merchant is involved in illegal activity, they will not sign up that merchant. Checks remain ongoing after a merchant has been set up to accept card payments and if a merchant is found to be offering illegal material for purchase by payment card, the acquiring bank will terminate its agreement with the merchant and report the matter to the police.

The banking industry is aware that fraudulently obtained card details are often used to make illegal purchases over the Internet and continues to introduce new initiatives to fight this type of fraud by making it more difficult for the fraudster to use the card details found on a discarded receipt.

The UK credit card industry has been funding the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to support its activities in fighting illegal sites on the Internet. The industry has worked closely with the Home Office to develop working relationships with the IWF and the Children's Charities Coalition for Internet Safety. In addition the industry is an active participant on the Home Office's Child Protection Task Force.