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Telus defends cell phone porn offering
Read the article / show / issue that provoked me to write a letter and my response below that or go straight to my response
Date Posted on this Site
February 24, 2007
Publication
CBC Online
Publication Date
February 2, 2007
Published Content
Vancouver-based Telus says it has no plans to stop selling pornographic photos and videos to its cellphone customers, despite receiving more than 100 complaints since it started offering the adult content last month.
Canada's second largest phone company is charging $3 to $4 per photo or video.
Spokesman Jim Johanssen said Telus decided to start selling online pornography after tracking a significant portion of customers who were already using their phones to find adult material.
"We can't make adult content go away. It's on your TV, it's on your home computer, it's now coming to your cellphones."
But he defends the new offerings, noting that Telus has put safeguards in place to stop minors from viewing it, and to ensure that the content is legal.
Despite that, Johanssen said, 135 customers have registered complaints with the company.
Johanssen noted phone companies in Europe and Asia have been in the business of selling it for a while, and the North American telecoms have been lagging behind.
By one estimate, North American mobile phone users spent $400 million US in 2005 to download pornography.
My Response Letter
Sent to Telus
I am appalled to learn that Telus is now offering pornography to cellphone users.
How can you justify increasing the amount of filth that Canadians can access?
Your reported response that users could already download pornography does not excuse or erase what is obviously an attempt to profit from the scourge.
Pornography reduces persons to mere objects, destroying the dignity of everyone involved (including the provider).
A study published in the scientific journal Mind, Medicine and Adolescence concluded that exposure to pornography puts viewers at increased risk for developing sexually deviant tendencies, committing sexual offences, experiencing difficulties in intimate relationships, and accepting of the rape myth.
In no way should Telus aid and abet those who desire to look at pornography on their cellphones in public places, those very same spaces where our children happen to be.
I strongly urge you to cancel this project.
Did I get a response?
Yes. On February 21, 2007, Telus announced it would no longer be providing this service.