[3GScottishUser]

From Reuters (05/05/2006):

ITALY'S communications ministry is checking pornography available on Hutchison's 3 Italia mobile network after a TV report said the X-rated images could be downloaded by children.

The ministry also invited the Italian judiciary to regulate the sector more closely, a move likely to raise concern in the fast-growing, multi-million euro industry.
"The ministry has decided to examine the services offered by the telephone company 3 Italia ... with particular attention to the use of video content over mobile phones," the communications ministry said in a statement.

3 Italia, controlled by Hong Kong giant Hutchison Whampoa, said in a separate statement it had suspended the adult content service as it waited for clarification about the charges made in the report shown on state TV last Sunday.

It has previously denied the accusations broadcast on RAI 3's Report program that the pornography available on the 3 Italia network was not properly secure because the code needed to view it was easily accessible to children.

"The company (3 Italia) reserves the right to any action in order to defend its interests and its reputation," 3 Italia said.

It said it had requested an immediate meeting with the communications ministry.

Consumers spend tens of millions of euros a year on mobile phone-based adult content in Europe and analysts expect it will generate about $US2 billion ($2.59 billion) in global revenue by 2009.

The availability of both soft and hard core pornography on mobile phones has already sparked a backlash with some European consumer groups calling for tighter controls.

One English newspaper dubbed mobile phone giant Vodafone "Vodafilth" over its porn distribution.

The Italian communications ministry said its probe was particularly focused on "hard core pornography" that could be accessed by minors over mobile phones.

It added the judiciary needed to "closely watch" adult content available on mobile phones, as well as the now more traditional areas of the internet and satellite TV.

3 Italia said it was convinced it was among the best operators in protecting children from adult content distributed by third parties on mobile phone networks.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,19033817%255E11869,00.html

[Hands0n]

Shame on 3, and any other content supplying mobile network operator for that matter, if the appropriate controls are either not there or are inadequate.

However, I do believe that the problem is going to be [somewhat more] common to all mobile operators that provide Internet access, especailly as data costs are beginning to fall. For the first time, perhaps, children will be able to [afford to] browse the Internet for images without let or hinderance.

Anyone performing a Google image search with "safesearch" turned off will not be able to avoid Porn images with even the most innocent of search words or phrases (try "Bambi" for example and the first page contains a link to, albeit soft, porn). It is a snap to turn safesearch off, so children will be able to bypass the traditional controls (i.e. parents periodically checking their kids computers). Thus access to such content, even if not supplied directly by the mobile operator, will be routinely available.

Unless, of course, the mobile operators take to employing strict filtering technology - all of which is commonly available these days (i.e. Websense).

But will they without being regulated to?

[3GScottishUser]

I suspect mobile operators will have to introduce an age verification system for premium adult entertainment if they want to offer it in a responsible manner. A user should have to log on with a password after providing a valid credit card to confirm age.

I don't think Internet content can be regulated by phone companies and that is a very different issue to the commercial provision of pornography by networks themselves. Internet porn is now a fact of life and there is a wealth of advice and guidence for parents on how to regulate this for their own families.

[teclo]

I suspect mobile operators will have to introduce an age verification system for premium adult entertainment if they want to offer it in a responsible manner. A user should have to log on with a password after providing a valid credit card to confirm age.


I know Vodafone do this when you try to access adult content sites like.. er. Talk3g over GPRS / 3G. They direct you to the adult confirmation page where you have to enter your credit card details and pay something, £1.50 I think, can't remember how much now.

[whatleydude]

Its £1.50 but it gets credited back to your phone bill.

...not that I'd know.

:o

[3GScottishUser]

Thats seems fair enough. So the card simply acts as an age verification tool and subsequent purchaces can be verified with a password.... seems to satisfy all of the requirements.

[teclo]

Yep, I just found it odd that you had to go through the age verification to visit talk3g.co.uk.