{"id":15327,"date":"2024-02-23T13:40:28","date_gmt":"2024-02-23T13:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/public-policy\/?p=15327"},"modified":"2026-06-02T11:19:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T10:19:50","slug":"illegal-content","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/public-policy\/mobile-policy-handbook\/consumer-protection\/illegal-content\/","title":{"rendered":"Illegal content"},"content":{"rendered":"

Background<\/h3>\n

Today, mobile networks not only offer traditional voice and messaging services, but also provide access to virtually all forms of digital content via the internet. In this respect, mobile operators offer the same service as any other internet service provider (ISP). This means mobile networks are inevitably used to access illegal content, ranging from pirated material that infringes intellectual property rights (IPR) to racist content or child sexual abuse material.<\/p>\n

Laws regarding illegal content vary considerably. Some content, such as child sexual abuse material, is considered illegal around the world, while other content, such as dialogue that calls for political reform, is illegal in some countries but is protected by rights to freedom of expression in others.<\/p>\n

Communications service providers, including mobile operators and ISPs, are not usually liable for illegal content on their networks and services, provided they are not aware of its presence and follow certain rules (e.g. \u2018notice and takedown\u2019 processes to remove or disable access to the illegal content as soon as they are notified of its existence by the appropriate legal authority).<\/p>\n

Mobile operators are typically alerted to illegal content by national hotline organisations or law enforcement agencies. When content is reported, operators follow procedures based on relevant data protection, privacy and disclosure legislation. In the case of child sexual abuse material, mobile operators use terms and conditions, notice and takedown processes and reporting mechanisms to keep their services free of this material.<\/p>\n

Debate<\/h3>\n

Should all types of illegal content, from IPR infringements to child sexual abuse material, be subject to the same reporting and removal processes?<\/em><\/p>\n

What responsibilities should governments, law enforcement or industry have in the policing and removal of illegal content?<\/em><\/p>\n

Should access to illegal content on the internet be blocked by ISPs and mobile operators?<\/em><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>
\n

<\/p>\n

Industry position<\/h3>\n

The mobile industry is committed to working with law enforcement agencies and appropriate authorities, and to having robust processes in place that enable the swift removal or disabling of confirmed instances of illegal content hosted on their services.<\/p>\n

ISPs, including mobile operators, are not qualified to decide what constitutes illegal content, the scope of which is broad and varies between countries. As such, they should not be expected to monitor and judge third-party material, whether it is hosted on or accessed through their own network.<\/p>\n

National governments decide what constitutes illegal content in their country. They should be open and transparent about which content is illegal before placing responsibility for enforcement on hotlines, law enforcement agencies and industry.<\/p>\n

The mobile industry condemns the misuse of its services for sharing child sexual abuse material. The GSMA Mobile Alliance to Combat Digital Child Sexual Exploitation provides leadership in this area and works proactively to combat the misuse of mobile networks and services by criminals seeking to access or share child sexual abuse material.<\/p>\n

Regarding copyright infringement and piracy, the mobile industry recognises the importance of proper compensation for rights holders and the prevention of unauthorised distribution.<\/p>\n

Resources<\/h3>\n

Combatting Online Child Sexual Abuse Content website, GSMA Mobile Alliance Against Child <\/em><\/a>Sexual Abuse Content<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Notice and Takedown: Company Policies and Practices to Remove Online Child Sexual Abuse<\/em><\/a> Material, GSMA and UNICEF, May 2016<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Hotlines: Responding to Reports of Illegal Online Content, GSMA, July 2016<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Child Sexual Abuse Material: Model Legislation and Global Review, Tenth Edition, International<\/em><\/a> Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, 2023<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

INHOPE website<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

The Model National Response website, WePROTECT Global Alliance<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

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