New legislation to protect users from accessing adult content on 3G mobile phones and subscription-based Internet portals will soon be introduced to parliament, ICT Minister, Senator Helen Coonan has announced.
“The Government supports the development of innovative new communications services which provide access to the Internet, email, games, instant messaging, chat rooms, video clips and television programs,” the Minister said.
“However, these new content services may also potentially carry offensive or harmful content and we need to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect children from exposure to content that might be harmful.”
The new legislation aims to extend the current restrictions that apply to content delivered over the Internet or TV to be applied to content delivered over convergent devices.
“This will include prohibition of content rated X18+ and above, requirements for consumer advice and age-restricting access to content suited only to adults,” the Minister said.
Non-compliance with new regulatory framework will see sanctions including criminal penalties for serious offences.
