Comment on ACMA's mobile chatroom notice

New South WalesFriday, 25 November 2005Council forCivil LibertiesThe ManagerNew South Wales CouncilContent, Credit Management & Infrastructure for Civil Liberties IncAustralian Communications & Media Authority149 St Johns RoadPO Box 13112 Law CourtsGlebe NSW 2037Melbourne VIC 8010 AustraliaPh 61 2 9660 7582Fax 61 2 9566 4162by email: mobilecontent@acma.gov.auCorrespondence to:PO Box 201Dear Sir/Madam, Glebe NSW 2037AustraliaDX 1111 SydneyEmail office@nswccl.org.auRe: Draft Safety Measures Noticewww.nswccl.org.auThe New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties (‘CCL’) thanks theACMA for the opportunity to comment on the draft Safety MeasuresNotice (‘the draft’) pursuant to section 4.1 of the Telecommunications Service Provider(Mobile Premium Services) Determination 2005 (No.1).CCL is concerned that the draft recommends excessive restrictions on the freedom ofexpression of both children and adults. CCL is also concerned that the draft violates theright to privacy of both children and adults.As noted in part two of the draft:Mobile chat rooms are an increasingly useful medium for communication andsocial networking and are especially used for these purposes by young people.As such, it is important that any restrictions on, or interference with, a person’s ability tocommunicate using such chat rooms are strictly limited to those measures necessary toachieve a legitimate goal.While it is important to ensure children are protected from sexual ...