Fed: New rules for underage use of online and mobile phones

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2007
Fed: New rules for underage use of online and mobile phones

CANBERRA, Dec 21 AAP - New restrictions on online chatrooms, websites and mobile phone
content will be introduced within a month to stop children viewing unsuitable material.

From January 20 new laws will be in effect, imposing tougher rules for companies that
sell entertainment-related content on subscription internet sites and mobile phones.

It is the first time content service providers will have to check that people accessing
MA15-plus content are aged over 15 years and those accessing R18-plus and X18-plus content
are over 18.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will be able to force content
providers to take down offensive material and issue notices for live content to be stopped
and links to the content deleted.

But ACMA chairman Chris Chapman said adults will not be affected by the new laws.

"In developing these new content rules, ACMA was guided by its disposition to allow
adults to continue to read, hear and see what they want, while protecting children from
exposure to inappropriate content, regardless of the delivery mechanism," Mr Chapman said
in a statement.

Providers of live services, such as chatrooms, must have their service professionally
assessed to determine whether its "likely content" should be restricted.

Personal emails and other private communications would be excluded from the new laws
and so would news or current affairs services.

AAP kc/sb/it/mn

KEYWORD: RESTRICTED

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