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The Internet is becoming increasingly mobile: more and more people are accessing the Internet via smartphones, mobiles, tablet PCs and laptops. This development is being accelerated by new mobile telephony standards, cheaper tariffs for mobile Internet access and by the fact that almost all new mobile / cell phones feature Internet capability. These offer simple surf-and-go functionality, whether on a bus, a train or in the park. At the same time, however, cybercrime is also becoming a problem for mobile telephony.

With the triumph of the Mobile Web, the importance of privacy on mobile networks has also grown in importance. This is because it is now possible to gather extensive data about the location of the mobile phone user and the Internet content being accessed via the device. The first providers are working on, or in some cases have already implemented, systems for delivering specific information about websites and applications using this type of position-finding data (geolocation). The risk is clear that this could lead to data being stored and detailed movement profiles being generated from them in ways that are unacceptable. The increasing use of mobile devices to access the Internet will thus make the user still more transparent, by a considerable degree.

These developments in the 'Mobile Web' must however also be closely monitored from the point of view of the protection of young people. There is a trend among young people in particular to save videos with pornographic or violent content, downloaded from the Internet, on their mobile devices and to share such material with one another. Some have also filmed acts of violence or criminal offences - such as attacks on fellow pupils - on mobile devices and subsequently uploaded the files to video portals.

Special strategies for Mobile Web, self-regulation and the strengthening of the protection of data, young people and consumers

In mobile telephony, naiin is making use of mainly the same technical and legal measures as are used for the Internet. This is because the source of cybercrime remains - even when the user comes into contact with it via mobile devices - Internet-based, as before. It is therefore necessary to tackle the problem directly where it arises. However, naiin is also devising strategies that are specifically designed for the area of mobile telephony.

As regards privacy and the protection of young people, there is also a great need for an extensive educational program, which naiin aims to satisfy through a broadly aimed publicity initiative that also includes mobile communications. The drafting of codes of conduct for mobile network operators, mobile phone companies and for providers of mobile services, and their enforcement, is an important aspect for naiin as a self-regulatory organization - not least in order to decisively strengthen consumer protection in the area of mobile telephony.