Ofcom wants ‘cinema style’ age filtering for mobile content

UK telecoms watchdog Ofcom has called for improvements to the way mobile providers filter adult content on the mobile web.

Ofcom has been reviewing the voluntary code of conduct operated by the Mobile Broadband Group – an industry body comprising O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, 3 and Virgin Mobile.  This code currently requires users to confirm that they are over 18 before allowing access to ‘adult’ content such as porn sirtes.  Group memebrs also allow parental controls to be set – an important consideration considering that over 50% of 9 year olds and 95% of 15 yeard olds now have internet-capable mobile phones.

Although broadly accepting the current system, Ofcom expressed concerns that a ‘more granular’ system – similar to the age banding used to classify cinema releases – might be more appropriate.  This would allo providers to keep some younger customers from accessing certain sites, while allowing that older children may be sophisticated enough to view them without harm.

via The Guardian

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