Cellcom, Bezeq Int’l fined

The Ministry of Communications has fined Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE:CEL; TASE:CEL) and Bezeq International Ltd. hundreds of thousands of shekels for violating provisions for protecting minors on the Internet and filtering harmful content. Cellcom was fined NIS 299,000 and Bezeq International was fined NIS 169,000. The issue involved violent, sexual, and other content considered improper for children.

Minister of Communications Gilad Erdan said, “The Internet and social media environment is saturated with harmful content that is liable to harm minors, and we are required to educate responsible use habits. The mobile carriers and Internet service providers offer solutions for filtering content, which are free and prevent exposure to harmful content. I call on the general public to use these services.”

The Ministry of Communications has establishing directives on the duty of mobile carriers and Internet service providers to notify their customers about the risks on websites and harmful online content in a number of ways: sending information brochures; publishing the information on the companies’ websites; requiring the companies’ representatives to provide the information; and so on.

As part of the Ministry of Communications’ oversight activity, it was found that Cellcom violated the provisions in the law and its license, including by not providing its customers with printed information on the subject when a contract was signed. It also found that Bezeq International did not send an information brochure to its customers, and violated the provisions requiring the publication of information on the free filter service on its website.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news – www.globes-online.com – on August 5, 2013