The European Union has forced more than 200 websites for mobile phone ringtones to stop using misleading advertising.

European Consumer Protection Commissioner, Meglena Kuneva, says the sites, which often target children, use misleading advertising methods. Ringtones often appear to be free of charge. It is only when the ringtone has been downloaded that consumers find they have signed up to a subscription.

The commissioner scrutinised 300 sites in the 27 EU countries, Norway and Iceland after hundreds of complaints from parents all over Europe. In total, 159 websites were "corrected" while a further 54 were closed down completely.

In the Netherlands 16 sites were found to be misleading. Twelve have since improved their information. Brussels handed out 2 million euros worth of fines, all of them against Italian companies.

Photo: cell phones -  Flickr / sean dreilinger