ACMA: Mobile internet new risk for kids

James Riley
Wednesday, 24 February 2010 00:57

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

The increased use of mobile internet devices, coupled with fast moving social media environments presented a new set of risks to both children and adults, new report from the Australian Communications and Media Authority has found.

While realising social and financial benefits of the emerging digital economy remained a high priority for Australia and other economies around the world, the trend toward mobility combined with users publishing more personal details online would create new headaches for online risk management.

The report on 'Online risk and safety in the digital economy' is the third and final paper ACMA has produced on international trends that aim to bolster consumer protections and confidence in the online environments. ACMA had been directed to produce the reports by Howard Government Communications Minister Helen Coonan in 2007.

Over that three year period, online social and financial transaction within the digital economy had become relatively routine. As a result, government had gradually shifted emphasis away from managing safety, security and privacy risks solely as user protections toward a broader goal of fostering trust in the online environment.

Mobile internet and social media sites add to the risk profile, but ACMA says there are too many gaps in international research to fully understand the precise nature of the exposure, which will be an issue for policy makers.

For adults, the report says the potential risk is likely to result from the reliance of the multi-function on mobile phones for making payments and other financial transactions, and the security problems that arise from having access to the internet.