Minors who pose as adults to receive erotic services on their cellular devices face a potential roadblock in the Communications Ministry. Anyone seeking such services will first have to fax or e-mail a copy of his identity card, including picture, according to a ministry plan. The ministry will hold a hearing on amending licenses of cellular operators in accordance with this regulation.

The ministry, however, faces harsh criticism for limiting only one area, while these services will still be available with relatively easy access on cable or satellite TV and with no restrictions on the Internet. The ministry also withdrew from its earlier demand that cellular firms install systems for filtering pornographic content. Company heads railed against efforts to limit freedom of cellular surfing.

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Cellular firms were raking in an estimated NIS 130 million annually from pornographic services until the ministry introduced the 1919 access code. This mandate established two years ago has subsequently cut revenue but pornography brings in hundreds of millions of shekels annually to all the communications companies in the country.