AFTER A NUTJOB documented his plans to go on a stabbing rampage on a mobile Web Site, Japanese ISPs think the world would be a better place if they censored such content to prevent that sort of thing ever happening again.

Mobile telephone content providers have promised to set safeguards to protect young people after Tomohiro Kato posted dozens of messages warning of plans for a massacre as he drove a rented two-tonne truck to Tokyo.

Apparently it was not the fact that he drove the truck into a crowded street and stabbed 17 people, it was more dangerous to kids that he told man plus dog that he was going to do it beforehand.

Now the mobile content industry has announced restrictions on mobile online sites that would label such content as unsuitable for minors.

Mobile phone websites to be labelled as 'safe' would have to closely monitor postings and report suspicious messages to the coppers.

The government said it would research new technology to filter messages on the Internet, because censorship is very effective at stopping homicidal maniacs committing random acts of mass murder because they are lonely. µ

L'Inq
AP