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11 March 2010 / Sharon Mitchell
Issue: 7408 / Categories: Features , Media , LexisPSL , Technology
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Where does the virtual buck stop?

The modern child’s relationship with the mobile phone is complex. He is a provider and a receiver of content, a potential customer, and a potential supplier of goods/services by on-line shopping, transferring media files, etc.

The modern child’s relationship with the mobile phone is complex. He is a provider and a receiver of content, a potential customer, and a potential supplier of goods/services by on-line shopping, transferring media files, etc.

Much of this is done at the expense of a parent who contracts as subscriber to obtain the service. A range of legal issues arise. Mobile phone contracts which offer “free” devices leave the user with little perception of the cost of the physical device. In contrast, considerable personal value is placed on the content which carries with it issues of data protection and confidentiality. Data protection law involves concepts of consent.

Under the UK law, children have rights of privacy and confidentiality. In addition, the principles set down in Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

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When it comes to free legal advice, demand massively outweighs supply. 'Millions of people are excluded from access to justice as they don’t have anywhere to turn for free advice—or don’t know that they can ask for help,' Bhavini Bhatt, development director at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes in this week's NLJ
When an ex-couple is deciding who gets what in the divorce or civil partnership dissolution, when is it appropriate for a third party to intervene? David Burrows, NLJ columnist and solicitor advocate, considers this thorny issue in this week’s NLJ
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
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