Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2007/07/23/icstis_warns_salacious_lines/

ICSTIS tells sex lines to clean up their act

Warns on warnings

By Bill Ray

Posted in Legal, 23rd July 2007 13:19 GMT

UK premium-rate regulator ICSTIS has told sex lines to clean up their act by 31 August or face sanction.

The warning comes in response to complaints from the public that some services are launching directly into salacious content, without the required warnings, while others are leaving frustrated punters on hold.

Recorded sex lines must remind callers to be over 18, and that the service name will appear on their phone bill. Live sex lines additionally need to say how much the call costs, the name of the company running the service, as well as stating that all calls are recorded.

Companies have until the end of August to make sure those warnings are in place, and no more: some services have been using lengthy warnings to keep punters waiting, while pretending it's their legal responsibility.

Quite why sex lines deserve such a warning when breaches could be addressed immediately is unclear. ICSTIS couldn't be reached for comment. ®