EC BROKERS DEAL TO GUARD YOUNGSTERS ON MOBILE PHONES

摘要

European mobile operators and content providers debuted a voluntary plan to protect young people from mobile phone dangers. Announced Tues., the European Framework for Safer Mobile Use is a result of EC-sponsored talks among telcos, content owners and child advocates, EC Information Society & Media Comr. Viviane Reding told a briefing. Signatories have until Feb. 2008 to craft national self-regulatory codes, which the EC will monitor for a year. Among other things, they agreed to: (1) Refrain from offering own-brand or 3rd-party commercial content classified as adults-only without offering appropriate access controls. (2) Let parents tailor children抯 access to content. (3) Ensure their own and 3rd- party content is classified according to national standards. Operators also agreed to help educate parents on the dangers on mobile phone networks.