I’ve been filling my head with net regulation stuff. I’m doing it for the Journalism and Media Research Centre at UNSW. I’ve been trying to see where there might be flaws or inconsistencies in the ways that filtering and censorship work in Australia.

A quick follow-up to what I wrote yesterday about mobiles being governed by two masters. I’ve found a bit more detail.

Peter Coroneos, the head of the IIA, the group that regulates web content and content makers, seems to suggest there’s a hole somewhere in the system involving mobiles.

In a journal article he wrote called, ‘Internet Content Policy and Regulation in Australia‘ (gripping title), he says that:

Mobile devices are not amenable to filtering at the device level. Most proprietary content for premium mobile services is hosted in Australia… hosted in a ‘walled garden’ and available only to users of a particular mobile phone service.

This distinguishes the content from that which is generally available over the internet, and accessible via mobiles. For this there is no current regulation other than takedown if that content is deemed to be prohibited content by the regulator and hosted in Australia. (my italics)

… it was realised that the lack of filtering could be overcome by a generalised obligation to pre-classify content and take down content which might be subsequently complained about.

So, in summary. The content you can get through your mobile’s internet browser IS subject to the same regulation as internet content.

But with one, big major difference – and that difference is one of the corner-stones of how regulation works for internet content.

In internet land, this is what happens:

ISPs are required to provide families with up-to-date information about commercial filtering software.

But does the same sharing process happen between ACMA and telecommunications companies? The ones providing 3G networks? In 2010, there are only 3 carriers providing 3G.

Do they have to show consumers how to filter content on their phones?

As far as I’m aware, telecommunications companies aren’t required by the regulation to supply what’s called ‘family friendly filters’ – and it’s difficult anyway, as Coroneos writes, to filter content on mobiles.

Have you ever seen any guff from mobile phone companies telling you how to filter? I’d be very keen to know.