McDonald's in New Zealand to review gay website ban

Jan 10, 2011, 23:07 GMT

Wellington - McDonald's in New Zealand will review gay and lesbian websites that were blocked when it began offering free wireless internet in its 158 outlets, managing director Mike Hawthorne said Tuesday.

McDonald's had no issues with the gay community and the sites had been blocked using standard industry software that bars access to gambling, sex and tobacco websites in accordance with its family- friendly policy, he told Radio New Zealand.

Hawthorne said the websites would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure their content did not conflict with the policy.

The blocked websites included rainbowyouth.org.nz, an organization that executive director Tom Hamilton said was designed to support homosexual youth.

He said McDonald's was the kind of place young people may go to look at the website if they did not feel confident about doing so at home.

News reports said other sites blocked by McDonald's included a family planning organization and a dating agency.