Vodafone wants input into code of practice

Vodafone says it wants to contribute to an industry code of practice to protect cellphone customers, after a chatroom for children was targeted by paedophiles.

Talks with Associate Minister of Communications David Cunliffe had resulted in a co-operative approach to developing best-practice standards for mobile operators, Vodafone NZ spokeswoman Sarah Williams said.

The text chat service, Teenzone, had been used inappropriately, and Vodafone would now draw on the experience of its sister companies, which had developed guidelines and technology solutions.

Vodafone UK had recently launched access controls and age verification to protect minors from inappropriate material.

In New Zealand, Vodafone had already launched initiatives, including:

* A partnership with NetSafe, which offered specialised advice and reviews of safety information on the Vodafone website.

* A text safety campaign providing schools with brochures and posters.

* A content standard working group to develop policies.

"We recommend mobile chat be for those over the age of 16," Ms Williams said in a statement.

"Your chat nickname is all that other chatters will see, so don't give out your personal details."

The Herald on Sunday reported that Vodafone and Telecom had agreed that a code barring children from text chatrooms could be drawn up before Christmas. The code would stipulate that proof of age be provided before users accessed unmoderated chatrooms.

Vodafone's Teenzone was closed on October 15 after journalists told the phone company it had been infiltrated. Men claiming to be as old as 38 were using the room to try to meet girls as young as 13 for sex.

Mr Cunliffe said the Department of Internal Affairs could trace paedophiles on the internet, and it was possible those powers could be extended to text-messaging.

- NZPA