New hotline to combat internet dangers to children

The fight against child pornography and the risk of paedophilia over the internet will be beefed up next week with the opening of a new hotline on which the public can report sexually explicit images of children and malicious contact with children via chatlines.

The new line will be manned by volunteers of Supportline 179, run by Agenzija Appogg, hotline coordinator Bernardette Cilia said.

Callers, who can remain anonymous, will be guided by the volunteers to file a report over the internet.

A study on internet use among students carried out by the National Statistics Office last year found that one in every three students is exposed to pornographic, violent and racist material when browsing the internet, with boys being more exposed than girls.

The hotline was set up after consultation with the International Association of Internet Hotlines (Inhope) and officials are currently in Malta to oversee the final stages.

Although the hotline is a step forward, the Foundation for Social Welfare Services' chief executive, Joe Gerada, pointed out that it cannot stand on its own. Fighting the danger needed the involvement of ministries, the police, the internet industry as well as further research into children's use of new media.

"Children are just a click away from pornography, racism and violent material over the internet. It is our business as social actors to proactively answer to such a major concern," Mr Gerada said.

He said that when the IT Ministry set up a Child Abuse Task Force in 2002, one of the recommendations was for Appogg to make this hotline available. The agency sought EU funds and applied to form part of Inhope.

"This collaboration shall strengthen our efforts to work against child pornography and malicious contacts made over the internet on international fora," he said.

Children's Commissioner Sonia Camilleri said it was of great concern that children's safety is jeopardised by the spread of illegal material using children and online chatting.

"It is clear that the protection of children is paramount when dealing with online illegal material and the ensuing problems of child pornography, grooming, paedophilia and others," she said.

Online grooming - which is when an adult chats with a child with the intention of finally meeting - has become a problem that many parents need to take seriously, she added.

Supportline unit leader Stephania Sacco explained that sometimes the adult masks himself as a young child and only tells the child he is in fact an adult before a meeting. She pointed out that children tend to become very attached to the other person and find it difficult to turn down a meeting.

An awareness campaign about the hotline is expected to be launched soon.