Australian kids looking to sneak a porn peek on cell phones won't have that chance anymore, if the Australian Communications Authority has anything to say about it.
The ACA is reported to be requiring kids to show photograph identification and give access requests in writing to the agency, according to Australian news reports.
The ACA is also drafting a regulation under which adult or mature mobile content will be restricted to telephone numbers with 195 or 196 prefixes and limited to those 18 years old and older.
So far, according to the ACA, sixteen companies – including Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, and Legion Interactive – have reserved adult-only numbers, but they can't activate those numbers until the country's adult-only numbers regulation becomes formalized in 2006.
That regulation also required cell phone companies to hire moderators that have undergone strict police checks and training to detect pedophiles trying to groom potential victims in unrestricted mobile chats, the ACA said.
"We have seen the dangers of using chat rooms on the Internet," said ACA mobile content manager Vincent Humphries to reporters, "and we feel the risk will be carried over to the mobile world. The computer at least is in a public space and gives parents a chance to supervise. The mobile is a personal device, so the risk is higher."
