UK code of practice1

Exerpts from the voluntary Code

Commercial content

Mobile operators will appoint an independent classification body to provide a framework for classifying commercial content that is unsuitable for customers under the age of 18. The framework will be consistent with standards used in other media and only treat as 18 content that would receive an 18 type classification for the equivalent material in, for example, magazines, films, videos and computer
games…
By default, all commercial content not classified as 18 will be unrestricted.
Each mobile operator will place commercial content classified as 18 behind access controls and only make it available to those customers that it has satisfied itself, through a process of age verification, are 18 or over.
The mobile operator will also place behind access controls all commercial content chat rooms, unless they are moderated chat rooms.

Internet content

Mobile operators have no control over the content that is offered on the Internet and
are therefore unable to insist that it is classified in accordance with the independent
classification framework.
Mobile operators will therefore offer parents and carers the opportunity to apply a filter to the mobile operator’s Internet access service so that the Internet content thus accessible is restricted. The filter will be set at a level that is intended to filter out content approximately equivalent to commercial content with a classification of 18.

Illegal content

Mobile operators will work with law enforcement agencies to deal with the reporting of content that may break the criminal law…

Unsolicited bulk communications

Mobile operators will continue to take action against unsolicited bulk communications
(i.e. spam), including text messages, picture messages and e-mails.

Information and advice

Mobile operators will provide advice to customers – including children, parents and
carers – on the nature and use of new mobile devices and services and support other
relevant media literacy activities designed to improve the knowledge of consumers.
Information on the Code will be available on the web site of each mobile operator.

Reference

1.  See http://tinyurl.com/hxqj4

The UK Mobile Operators Code of Practice for the self-regulation of new forms of content on mobiles has been developed and signed by Orange, O2, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Vodafone and 3