Protecting Children Online

Telecommunications is a tremendous asset to children and their families. Children are keen and playful users of computers and mobile phones. But guidance and protection is needed, otherwise children may be subjected to “cyber bullying” or harmful material on their mobiles and computers.

Magic Desktop, “bully filter” and "SafeChild"

Originally developed by Telenor in 2003, Magic Desktop is a software with numerous programs and applications, which also enables parents to monitor their children’s activity online. In Norway, we also have a “bully filter”, to stop harassment by mobile phone. Using this free service, customers may block certain numbers from sending text or multimedia messages to their children. “SafeChild” is another free additional service enabling Telenor customers in Norway to prevent their children from accessing unwanted content and ditto costs on their mobile.

Blocking access to child sexual abuse material

Child sexual abuse is a heinous crime and the distribution of such material has the effect of perpetuating the crime for the victims. The child sexual abuse filter is a technical barrier that blocks websites containing child sexual abuse content to a mobile phone or computer. The Telenor Group is a pioneer within this field and became the world's first telecom operator to cooperate with law enforcement authorities in creating such a filter. Following the success of the filter in our three Nordic markets and Montenegro, we are joining forces with other mobile operators to expand the global outreach of the filter.