European Union regulators on Tuesday started scrutinising Europe’s telecommunications industry on risks for children using cellphones and called for self-regulation in the sector.
The growth in cellphone use helps people link up in today’s information society, but could also threaten the safety of minors, the European Commission said.
Child safety, consumer and parents’ organisations, mobile network operators, content providers, handset and network producers and national regulators are now asked to debate voluntary rules that already regulate the industry in some member states.
With most parents having little control over their children’s cellphone use, internet access through cellphones would ease contact for paedophiles, the EU executive warned.
Services that allow cellphone users to be tracked down, marketed as a way for parents to control their offspring, could also increase the danger for children to be contacted by paedophiles.
When surfing the internet through their cellphones, children and adolescents could also access pornographic and violent websites easily.
The commission also voiced concern about the rising popularity of ”happy slapping”, the practice of filming violent attacks on cellphones. Other forms of bullying using cellphones include threats, blackmail, name-calling and crank calls, it said.
In addition, children’s spending is mounting on downloading games, ring tones, logos and other services on their cellphones, the commission underlined.
According to EU data, about 70% of Europe’s 12- to 13-year-olds and 23% of children aged eight to nine own a cellphone. On average, British children are given their first cellphone at the age of eight.
The consultation will run until October 16, the commission said. If cellphone operators do not agree on a code of conduct, the EU executive will consider new laws, a commission spokesperson said.
The move comes just a few weeks after the commission put forward plans to force Europe’s telecom operators to cut currently high costs for using cellphones abroad.
The proposals sparked an outcry from the industry, arguing that the move would threat competition on the market that it said was already bringing roaming prices down. — Sapa-dpa