3G poses child porn dilemma
The Government is being urged to act swiftly to prevent the dissemination of child pornography on third generation mobile phones.
According to the National Children’s Home charity, 3G mobile phone technology opens the way for paedophiles to view child porn on pay-as-you-go devices without detection.
Labour MP Debra Shipley said 3G firms such as 3 must ensure adequate steps are taken to stamp out child porn on their services.
Ms Shipley told Channel Four News: “They’re children, they’re actually being abused and they may well be abused-to-order with the new technology coming in.
“It’s absolutely appalling and we’re going to have to run very, very fast as a society and the Government’s got to move fast if we have any hope at all of catching up with these despicable people.”
Calling on the industry to come off the sidelines, she argued: “The firms must be required to bring in action, not simply have guidance and good practice.
“Also anybody who knows of somebody using a phone in the wrong manner, receiving these sorts of images, they’ve got to shop them. They’ve actually got to shop them – whether they’re family, friends or colleagues – and take them to the police.”
Tory leader Michael Howard said in a statement: “The link between access to the internet and mobile phones, and the terrifying growth in child pornography highlighted by new figures released today, raises deeply serious concerns for families, for politicians, and for the providers of IT services.
“I am writing to all those involved – the police, the Internet Service Providers and the mobile phone companies, who have not been so closely involved before – to join me at a meeting to discuss what more we can all do in this area.
“We need to do everything we can to stop the scourge of child pornography – and the time to act is now.”
