A new US phone network for Christians aims to block porn and gender-related con
10 hours ago
- #Mobile Networks
- #Content Filtering
- #Christian Technology
- A new US mobile network called Radiant Mobile, launching on May 5 and using T-Mobile's infrastructure, targets Christian users by implementing network-level content blocking.
- The network blocks pornography by default without an opt-out option for adult users and also filters sexual content related to gender and trans issues, with this filter being optional but on by default.
- Founder Paul Fisher aims to create a 'Jesus-centric' environment free from porn, LGBT, and trans content, with plans to expand to other Christian-majority countries like South Korea and Mexico.
- Radiant Mobile uses Israeli cybersecurity company Allot to categorize and block websites, including pornography, violence, malware, gaming, and 'sects,' with blocked pages failing to load entirely.
- The blocking system is subjective, as websites can be categorized broadly; for example, content on gender identity may be blocked under the 'sexuality' category, potentially affecting entire domains.
- To compensate for blocked content, the company plans to offer a library of religious material, including AI-generated Bible videos and licensed children's characters like Cinderella and Tinker Bell.
- Experts like David Choffnes note that network-level blocking is not new but criticize it as a 'sledgehammer approach' that may be ineffective and contrary to principles of an open internet.
- The network has received $17.5 million in investment from Compax Ventures, with Nvidia vice president Roger Bringmann as the lead investor, and includes a revenue-sharing model where churches can receive donations from subscriptions.