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A Comparative Empirical Study on Mobile ICT Services, Social Responsibility and the Protection of Children

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the Spanish mobile phone industry to determine how mobile phone companies and certain institutions can improve protection for children who use mobile phones. We carried out a multivariate statistical analysis using anonymous primary data from mobile phone companies, and institutions and associations that protect children, to compare these stakeholders’ opinions and to put forward solutions. We proved that, even though some European countries have made an effort to provide safer ICT services, all stakeholders still need to cooperate and agree on solutions to the commercial problems associated with children using mobile phones. This can be done by signing codes of conduct. We found that even though some companies implement measures to protect children from accessing harmful content via their mobile phones, they do so for reasons of legal and not social responsibility.

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Acknowledgments

This paper is part of a research project, supported by the Valencian Regional Government (Spain), entitled ‘M-MINOR: ICT Mobile Services and child protection’ (M-MENOR: la protección del menor de edad ante los Servicios de la Sociedad de la Información por telefonía móvil). Reference: GVPRE/2008/102.

We would like to thank all the companies, institutions and associations that have kindly completed our survey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Management Department, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera, s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain

    María De-Miguel-Molina

  2. Statistics Department, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    Mónica Martínez-Gómez

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  1. María De-Miguel-Molina
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  2. Mónica Martínez-Gómez
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Correspondence to María De-Miguel-Molina.

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De-Miguel-Molina, M., Martínez-Gómez, M. A Comparative Empirical Study on Mobile ICT Services, Social Responsibility and the Protection of Children. Sci Eng Ethics 17, 245–270 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-010-9199-1

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