Consumer Health News
EU scrutinizes risks for children using mobile phones
By DPA
Jul 25, 2006, 14:31 GMT

Brussels - European Union regulators on Tuesday started scrutinizing Europe's telecommunications industry on risks for children using mobile phones and called for self-regulation in the sector.

The growth in mobile phone 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 which already regulate the industry in some member states.

With most parents having little control over their children's mobile phone use, internet access through mobile phones would ease contact for paedophiles, the EU executive warned.

Services which allow mobile phone 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 mobile phones, 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 mobiles.

Other forms of bullying using mobile phones 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 mobile phones, the commission underlined.

According to EU data, some 70 per cent of Europe's 12-13-year-olds and 23 per cent of children aged 8-9 own a mobile phone. On average, British children are given their first mobile phone at the age of eight.

The consultation will run until October 16, the commission said. If mobile phone operators do not agree on a code of conduct, the EU executive will consider new laws, a commission spokesman 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 mobile telephones abroad.

The proposals sparked an outcry from the industry, arguing that the move would threat competition on the market which it said was already bringing roaming prices down.