@Dr Bunsen 564042 wrote:
What’s this about age requirements and not being able to view this site?
Telefonica Europe in the UK block the site at network level until they or their MVNOs such as Giffgaff/Tesco Mobile etc are satisfied that the end user of the SIM is over 18. Giffgaff openly state that the main O2 group (former Cellnet) are in charge of this (both are part of Telefonica O2 Europe, unlike Tesco which has more autonomy),
Looking at Ofcoms site there appears to be no compulsory requirement for mobile companies to activate the parental control filters, but most PAYG SIMS appear to now be delivered with these activated as a default.
Even on a tethered connection you get this
I can see why they would do it: Telefonica Europe appear to be marketing Giffgaff to a wide group of young tech aware end users from age 12-45 (which could be two generations within a family) and the O2 brand at corporate users with Tesco Mobile aimed towards mums with young kids and older people; they know that European society is more tolerant but still wants to protect the 12-18 age group. Other than Giffgaff all of the brands are used elsewhere in the EU, but those SIMS do indeed appear to come from Germany so may be sold under different branding for other Telefonica networks.
PVR, Forum of Life and Rave Forum are classed as safe and let through as are Internet Radio.com, Soundcloud (the selection seems to be “firm but fair” rather than arbitrary censorship) – I’m not sure about the “yoof” social networks or Facebook as I don’t use them other than (very rarely) Twitter (which is also allowed). Telefonica appear to pick an example age of about 12/13 for the safeguarding profile which ties in with the age at which many EU countries consider a child to be safe to interact with others with limited supervision from parents/teachers or other authorities.
