In an attempt to prevent kids from viewing inappropriate content on the internet, mobile broadband providers in the UK have agreed to follow a self-regulatory code for screening such content.

The motivation behind this Code is that parents were worried about their children coming across material on the internet which is unsuitable for them. At the same time, the parents did not want to prevent their kids from accessing the internet because the medium offers many services such as fun activities, tutorials and information. Keeping a constant vigil while the child is online is also impractical.

The proposition that the material on the internet should be monitored by broadband operators has found a lot of support. Comparisons have been drawn between similar controls exercised in the case of cinema, computer games and television programs, and recommendations for the same have been made for the internet.

However, broadband operators generally refuse to be ‘net nannies’ and do not want to be responsible about the material available on the net. In spite of their initial negative response, the voluntary code of practice drafted by the telecom regulator Ofcom has been accepted by the UK’s major mobile broadband service providers. For information on your ISP, mobile broadband genie is a good site to look at for provider reviews and news from the likes of 3 mobile broadband and the other top internet service providers.

Mobile Broadband Group (an intra-industry organisation with the UK’s big service providers as members) said that the process of formulating the code involved consultations with different parties. It is good news that the Code will provide the means to safeguard young users from being exposed to the harmful content available on the internet. Some of the safeguards include efficient access control and filtering options which are to be implemented by the operators. However, the mobile broadband operators need to be cautious and self-regulatory in this area, as the market conditions change quite rapidly.