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Unesco steps up fight against Internet paedophiles Wednesday, June 16, 1999 Published at 05:42 GMT 06:42 UK The United Nations has given its support to a new think-tank aimed at combating the misuse of the Internet by paedophile groups. Experts in Internet crime estimate there are about 23,000 Websites dedicated to paedophilia. Innocence in Danger is a new campaign, which was launched in New York on Tuesday with the full backing of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). It is the brainchild of Parry Aftab, executive director of the Cyberangels Internet safety group. The US National Action Committee on Innocence in Danger has its own Website which advises parents where to get help on protecting their children. Unesco has set up similar committees in France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Argentina, Colombia, Panama and Thailand. Plans for 'watchtower' A "watchtower" Website, keeping track of paedophile groups around the world, is expected to be up and running next year. The campaign will also liaise with law enforcement agencies around the world and share information on suspected Internet paedophiles. America Online, Microsoft, the American Library Association, the US Justice Department and the New Jersey State police have given their backing to the project. Ms Aftab believes there is a need for action on two fronts: 1. Co-ordinating efforts by law enforcement agencies across the world. 2. Educating children directly about the dangers of "Internet seduction". 'Beware of cyber creeps' Ms Aftab said: "We have to educate children about the dangers just like we tell them not to get in a car or take from a stranger." The New Jersey force's Internet expert, Detective Bob O'Leary, was responsible for uncovering the Melissa computer virus, which sent victims pornographic e-mail. "Paedophiles on the Internet range from the novice to the highly sophisticated," Mr O'Leary said. "We intend to contribute on a world wide basis what we learn, and to make sure the entire world has the benefit of our mistakes," Ms Aftab said. She also said people were entitled to free speech, even if their views sickened those in "normal" society. But she said child pornography on the Internet sites was illegal in most nations and needed to be traced and reported. There are now 3.8 million Websites and about 17 million US children use the Web regularly. Chat room seduction Child abusers have been known to seek out unsuspecting victims by posting seemingly innocuous messages in computer chat rooms. Earlier this year, a convicted child molester from the UK travelled to the US in an attempt to contact ateenage girl he had befriended through the Internet. Ian Waddup was jailed and will be deported after serving his sentence but the judge said she wished she could somehow ban him from the Internet. Ms Aftab said: "Paedophiles don't wear a black beard and hang out on street corners and look slimy." She said she had been impressed by the co-operation between law enforcement agencies worldwide and particularly praised the work of the Metropolitan Police in London and UK Customs. Ms Aftab also praised the Japanese authorites who, she said, had acted to close a number of loopholes which had allowed paedophiles to operate virtually unfettered. Homayra Sellier, who runs an Internet watch group in Switzerland, says: "North America and several European countries play a key role in the production, distribution of child pornography in all parts of the world." German crackdown German police said this week they had found 368 child pornography sites on the Internet so far this year with the help of a new squad which is surfing the Web for cyber-crime. Leo Schuster, director of the 20-strong unit, said the child porn cases had been passed on to local and international police forces for further investigation. Mr Schuster said police could not force Internet service providers to co-operate in preventing the sale of indecent images of children on the Web, but he urged them to make a voluntary declaration that they were at least aware of the problem. Last September, more than 40 people were arrested worldwide in the biggest raid on alleged Internet paedophiles. BBC News Home | BBC Homepage http://news.bbc.co.uk/low/english/sci/tech/newsid_370000/370327.stm janet paterson 52 now / 41 dx / 37 onset PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0 Canada a new voice http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Village/6263/ [log in to unmask]