Australia Mobile Porn Faces Stiff Regulation

SYDNEY – As mobile phone carriers and content providers begin gearing up for what promises to be substantial market demand for mobile porn, the Australian Communications Authority stepped up its plans to protect underage mobile users from accessing illicit material via SMS and mobile carrier portals.

The ACA proposed regulations this week on adult and premium mobile services, banning all mobile content that is either not properly classified or which has been refused classification by film or video censors. The ACA also plans to issue warning notices demanding that mobile content that does not abide by regulatory terms be disabled immediately.

Premium mobile content includes games, wallpaper, streaming content, audio, sports replays and mobile ringtones.

Additionally, the ACA instituted a policy that adult content that is properly classified as such will be relegated to numbers prefixed 195 and 196 and that anyone wishing to gain access to these mobile porn channels must prove their age with a photo ID and a written request.

“Our intention is to promote a sustainable and responsible market for premium services accessed by mobiles,” Acting ACA Chairman Dr. Bob Horton said. “The proposed new rules address community expectations about preventing explicit adult content being accessed on mobile phones and restricting access to other adult content to people who are 18 and over."

Mobile carriers will be required by the ACA to fully inform users on the cost of accessing mobile porn in order to avoid fraudulent billing and consumer complaints over unexpectedly high phone bills.

The ACA has also applied pressure to the country's largest telecommunications companies like Optus, Vodafone and Telstra to implement its age-restriction policy on mobile content by the time the regulations are finalized in early 2005.

Mobile phone companies will also be required to hire and train specialized moderators to patrol the airwaves in search of pedophiles in mobile chat rooms.

The ACA has called for public feedback on its proposed mobile regulations and public meetings will be held regarding the effectiveness of the regulations for consumerss and mobile providers.

“This is a completely new area of regulation and the ACA is very keen to have as much feedback as possible on the proposed new rules,” Dr. Horton said.

The ACA was established in 1997 under the Australian Communications Authority Act and is responsible for regulating the telecommunications industry and providing consumer protection.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Adult Industry Educational, Networking Platform 'Imperfectly You' Launches

Imperfectly You, an educational and networking platform for adult industry workers, has officially launched.

Segpay to Launch News Network for High-Risk Merchants

Segpay has announced that it will launch the Segpay News Network (SNN) on April 15.

Age Verification Watch: Patching the Holes

This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Pineapple Support to Host Autism Spectrum Support Group

Pineapple Support is hosting a free online support group for performers and creators who are, or suspect they may be, on the autism spectrum.

ImLive Launches Revamped Member Loyalty Program

Cam platform ImLive has revamped its member loyalty program.

GoFundMe Set Up for Danny Ferretti's Medical Expenses

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Fangear founder Danny Ferretti, who requires extensive lung surgery.

Byborg Acquires Cuties AI

Byborg Enterprises has acquired adult artificial intelligence startup Cuties AI.

Irish Government Releases Report on Sex Work Decriminalization Legislation

The Irish government has released a report reviewing a 2017 law that decriminalized sex work across the country.

Texas Bill Would Require Age Verification for Online Sex Toy Sales

A new bill in the Texas state legislature would require online retailers to implement age verification of purchasers before selling “obscene devices” to anyone in that state.

New York Assemblyman Proposes Banning the Term 'Sex Work'

Republican New York Assembly Member Brian Maher has introduced a bill to prohibit the use of the term "sex work" in government documents.

Show More