The new generation mobile devices are no longer mobile phones only, and it will shortly be possible to do almost everything on an internet-enabled phone that can be done from an internet-connected computer. The latest models offer access to a diverse mix of broadcast and entertainment media, including photography, video, radio and music, games, internet browsing and personal software applications, including SMS, MMS and video messaging and chat.

This is particularly worrying given the nature and use of mobile phones by children and young people. In 2005 one-third of children and young people aged 11 to 17 had their own mobile phones with that figure expected to rise to a half by 2007. At the same time worldwide revenue from mobile phone pornography is reported to be £500 million per year and could grow to three times that number or more within a few years.

A a new and emerging risk it is quickly becoming apparent that the issues about being safe online apply equally to this new generation of mobile phones. One problem is that mobile operators have no control over the content that is offered on the internet. Many operators offer parents and carers the opportunity to apply a filter to the mobile operator’s internet access service so that the internet content thus accessible is restricted. Commercial mobile phone security suites are also available that offer people protection when using their mobile phones.

With this in mind it is important that nodes work together and with key stakeholders, such as industry, children's charities and the education sector, to identify and respond appropriately to relevant issues in the continuous process of risk assessment of emerging threats of emerging technologies.

Dr Denise Maia Carter, UK node