It appears that the site, which did not require user
registration, promised "100% anonymity", and asked customers to
enter a credit card number or a German federal ID number to prove
that they were at least 18 years old. Once these details were
disclosed, a dialer was downloaded. Customers' phone bills were
charged €1.30 per minute.
German laws prevent under-aged access to unsuitable films,
videos, books and other material in shops and other places of
public access, and also via mail order.
The Neuss Administrative Court in Westfalia, Germany, apparently
considered that, in contrast with situations where the requested ID
can be checked against the individual who presents it, the internet
is anonymous and requires more elaborate age checks.
The court noted that, on-line, the ID or credit card number
check was easy to circumvent and that no customer addresses or
other personal details were required to gain entry to the site in
question. It therefore rejected the site operator's argument that
he had taken all necessary measures to stop minors from accessing
the web site, and imposed a fine of €3,500.
According to the EBLDIRECT report, child welfare authorities in
April 2001 warned the site operator that the age checks were
inadequate, but no action was taken.
