Move to protect teen texters

By JULIET ROWAN

The Government is investigating a voluntary code of practice for phone companies to stop sex predators using text chat rooms.

The move follows a Herald on Sunday report that revealed a Vodafone text chat room for teenagers was being used by men trying to procure sex from young girls.

Information Technology Minister David Cunliffe said last night that the Government was looking at overseas models for a voluntary code of practice that could see age and content restrictions placed on text chat rooms.

He planned to discuss a possible code with Vodafone and Telecom this week.

Mr Cunliffe said regulations would be introduced if needed to support a code.

The Government would also check existing laws to ensure they allowed for the prosecution of paedophiles using text chat rooms.

It would look at developing educational materials for parents and was working with the Internet Safety Group on a strategy to ensure children were protected when using new mobile technologies involving video.

Vodafone closed its Teenzone text chat room late on Friday after a Herald on Sunday reporter posing as a 13-year-old girl received dozens of messages from men asking for sex.

Telecom operates about a dozen mobile chat rooms, but none is specifically targeted at teenagers.

Spokesman John Goulter said Telecom was keen to explore the possibility of introducing a voluntary code of practice for mobile chat rooms.

He said the company had been monitoring its chat rooms for the last few months to check they were not being used by paedophiles.

"We're keeping a very close look at this whole area. We're interested in our customers' safety."

It had not found any problems, but if one was discovered, the chat room concerned would be shut immediately, he said.

Police also launched an inquiry after the Herald on Sunday article.

They planned to question men who contacted the reporter. The operation, led by Auckland police Child Exploitation Team head Detective Sergeant Joe Mills, was likely to begin today.