SoftBank Mobile Introduces Yahoo Kids Filter

Based on an increasing concern for clients under 18 with mobile data plans who currently may access adult related content SoftBank Mobile has announced the upcoming implimentation of their “Yahoo Kids” content filter option. According to the announcement; “Web use limitation” is a function to limit the access to specific URL’s based on net star Ltd.’s list classification standard. The category that becomes an object is as follows: Unlawfulness, adult, meeting, gambling, grotesqueness, and occult. Apparently, there are certain official contents that will become inaccessible when the filter is in place.

As of the middle of January the company will revise the agreement, to be completed by the parental authority when applying for a new contract, to include a “Web use limitation” option in the confirmation column concerning the filtering service. The parent must complete the application permission option indicating either “Yahoo kids” or “Do not join”. When neither is chosen, the contract application cannot be received.

For existing under 18 customers an sms campaign will begin in February to determine access options and the company appears to have tied permission rights for new content site subscriptions to the updated completion by parents of the so-called “Web use limitation” contract.