Children can easily access hardcore pornography due to a loophole in mobile phone safeguards, says Which?
By sending a £1.50 text message from a mobile phone, youngsters can get access to hours of adult images on their home computer, according to the consumer watchdog.
Britain's mobile phone companies have a code of practice to shield children from adult content. But using an O2 mobile bought by and registered to a 15-year-old girl, Which? got access codes to view eight pornographic websites.
O2's filter system did block some adult material being sent to the phone, but it let through access codes for internet sites showing hundreds of hardcore sex films.
Which? has raised concerns in the past with Icstis, the premium-rate watchdog, about internet porn sites that generate revenue by getting customers to pay via premium-rate texts rather than by credit card.
Icstis responded that any attempts by under-18s to access adult content via text message should be blocked by the phone company.
O2 has admitted there is a loophole for adult sites using texts for payment and is looking to introduce additional safeguards.
Malcolm Coles, editor, Which?, said: "At the moment, there's nothing to stop children getting hold of hardcore pornography through their mobile phone. It's easy to access and costs less than a couple of quid.
"There are supposed to be safeguards to stop this sort of thing, but they're obviously ineffective. This loophole needs to be closed as soon as possible."
The article Kids' mobiles porn loophole originally appeared on 999 Today
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