Japanese telco NTT Docomo has banned customers under 18 from accessing mobile internet dating sites.

The move comes as the government attempts to crack down on "deaikei" or encounter crimes. Such crimes cover a wide range, from date rape to underage prostitution. It is also supposed to end an era of Japanese teens collecting presents in return for sexual favours.

The sites being banned are not the more dodgy wife-swapping sites either, but conventional blogging and social networking sites. While Mobage-town, Myspace Mobile and Gree have been deemed safe, others have been blocked by NTT Docomo.

It is expected that the move will be followed by outer Japanese telcos. Softbank Mobile has announced that it will start blocking the sites in the first week of February.

According to the Japanese Times, teens are moaning that it will be really annoying not being able to communicate with their friends through blogging sites.

Docomo said that customers under 18 must submit an application and proof of age to view sites which are blacklisted. Sites have not just been blacklisted if they are "dodgy".  To avoid blacklisting, site owners have to pay a content monitoring watchdog $5,574.86,  have a 24-hour watch system in place and a system to notify police or fire officials in emergencies. X