Telenor is the first operator in Serbia which has introduced filters for blocking access to illegal websites with elements of sexual abuse of children, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior Affairs. Ivica Dačić, Minister of Interior Affairs, and Kjell Morten Johnsen, CEO of Telenor, have inked an agreement on long-term cooperation today.

Any Telenor user who tries to access a site with illegal contents from a mobile phone or a computer will be automatically redirected to the “Stop page“ with the information that s/he is trying to access a banned site.

“The telecommunications sector can contribute to the reduction of sexual abuse of children on the Internet, which is a serious global issue. We provide users with simple and fast Internet access from a mobile phone or a computer, at any time and at any place. Thus we become co-responsible for some major issues of their safety on the Internet. We believe that it is important to be actively engaged in the protection of Internet users both as individual operators and the industry. Telenor in Serbia is making such a step today,” says Kjell Morten Johnsen, CEO of Telenor.

“Three years ago, the Ministry of Interior established the High Tech Crime Division, which has recorded impressive results, despite modest equipment. Therefore, it is particularly important to support their work through the agreement with Telenor, which will provide the Division with the equipment. The fight against exploitation of children is the second most important issue, after terrorism. This form of socialising on the network given a feeling of independence to children, but harmless communication can be dangerous, and that has additionally motivated us to recognise Telenor’s initiative and establish cooperation, in order to prevent access to banned websites,” says Ivica Dačić, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia and the Minister of Interior Affairs.

A black list of the Interpol and the Ministry of Interior includes websites with contents that can be classified as sexual exploitation, harassment or misuse of children. Within the cooperation between Telenor and the Ministry of Interior, the High Tech Crime Division will submit to Telenor updated lists with addresses of websites for which the Ministry and the Interpol have established that they contain illegal material.

In 2005, Telenor Norway was the first mobile operator in the world which introduced these filters, resulting in the establishment of the Mobile Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Content), in 2008, within the global association of mobile operators (GSMA). So far, Telenor Group has introduced the filters in another five of its companies – in Sweden, Denmark, Montenegro, Bangladesh, and Serbia – with an aim to have them become a standard in all other companies of the Group.

Telenor has provided the High Tech Crime Division with computer equipment, software and the Internet.

For reporting illegal contents and additional information, please dial 011 311 72 08 of the High Tech Crime Division of the Ministry of Interior or send an e-mail to .