Companies Indispensable in Combating Internet Child Pornography, Says UN

The "nearly unlimited freedom" of the Internet and the absence of legislation on Internet child pornography in many countries have left a "dangerous vacuum" exposing children to the risk of abuse worldwide, according to Juan Miguel Petit, United Nations Special Rapporteur on child prostitution and pornography. In a Report recently submitted to the UN Commission on Human Rights, Petit urged governments to do more to combat child pornography on the Internet and specifically recommended, among other things, attaching criminal consequences to the production and possession of child pornography; making Internet "luring" an offence; making Internet service providers responsible for monitoring illegal material (not only removing or preventing access to it); and ensuring that laws protect all children under the age of 18. Petit described the private sector as an "indispensable ally" in the fight against online child pornography and encouraged the development of self-regulatory initiatives. Credit card companies in particular, he wrote, can play a crucial role in prevention, by refusing to accept payment for child pornography web sites and by finding ways not to allow payments through "e-gold", a payment method which hides credit-card information. Along with credit card companies, Petit said in a news briefing that "manufacturers of hardware and software . . . surely know more than . . . governments about these problems and how to fight them." Some companies, such as Visa International and Microsoft Corporation, have already taken an active stance against online child pornography by pursuing illegal operators, engineering programs to assist police, participating in Interpol discussions and in organizations such as the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children. "Technology companies have a critical role to play in making the Internet safe for children," said a spokesperson for Microsoft. Child pornography has become one of the most elusive and widespread areas of cybercrime in recent years; according to Petit, web sites distributing illegal material generate more than millions of dollars (euros) each month in the United States alone. "This is a new war for social policy – a new war for the future," said Petit. For related news reports, see: http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-5669179.html http://beta.news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20050415/tc_cmp/160900515/nc:1212 Summary by: Rosa Kim