Leader: Mobile spam - over-hyped

There has been a lot of talk over the past two days about the mobile phone as the next battleground against all manner of digital nasties.

Top of the list, in no particular order, seem to be spam, pornography and scams - for example getting users to call back premium rate numbers or taking over handsets using Bluetooth close-range connectivity.

The issue of pornography is pretty clear cut. If it's illegal, there's no place for it and there is a need for collective vigilance. Legal porn shouldn't fall into the hands of those under age - and let's not forget there are mobile safeguards available to match any cable channel, hotel room, video shop or newsagent top shelf.

But when it comes to spam and scams, let's not get overly worried. London tabloid Metro today carried a story opening with the line: "Mobile users are being bombarded by a flood of spam messages which could cost them millions". But it's just not true.

When so many of our PC email inboxes are polluted with so much rubbish it is easy to see why there is fear surrounding an even more personal device. However, we mustn't confuse individuals saying they have been spammed at least once with the same people receiving unsolicited texts many, many times.

Research conducted by silicon.com last summer showed two-thirds of mobile users had received spam while this week's figures claim the figure has risen to nine out of 10 of the UK's mobile owners.

But how many of our SMS inboxes are drowning in dubious offers for degrees, drugs, unlimited eBay-generated wealth and more?

The answer, clearly, is very few. A sensible debate on the subject married to vigilance - which we hope will be evident at next week's 3GSM shindig - is required.