Appoġġ, the government’s social support agency, asked a woman in recent days to remove “offensive” photos of three children, not older than 11, from her Facebook profile.

The photos showed a boy holding an unlit cigarette, a girl with heavy make-up posing with two boys in a sexy manner and a boy pretending to shoot another boy.

The children’s images were posted among a set of photos of two women, possibly their mothers, posing provocatively in skimpy, bikini-like outfits.

Children’s Commissioner Helen D’Amato said: “The woman was immediately cooperative and removed the photos. She realised what she had done which, I think, was the result of a lack of awareness...

“This highlights the general lack of awareness about the possible consequences of posting such photos online for all to see,” Ms D’Amato said.

Ms D’Amato said her office received reports about the Facebook page, which was circulated on the internet. She referred the case to Appoġġ which intervened by contacting the woman.

Although the children were fully clothed, and there was nothing illegal about the photos, they were deemed offensive.

“In Malta we tend to think our children are cute when they strike a sexy pose... It’s one thing putting those photos in the family album, but posting them on the internet for all to see is a different story... You never know who will access them and what they will do with them,” she said.

An Appoġġ spokesman pointed out that the internet provides an easier access for paedophiles to view and download pictures of children.

“A parent may see a webcam as an easy way for a child to communicate with friends and relatives, but a paedophile sees it as an open window into a child’s life...

“In extreme cases, the information provided online can also lead to a paedophile turning up at the family door while the children are alone. Paedophiles also use the internet as a tool to entice children into meeting offline.

“They often gain children’s trust by pretending to be another child. Thus by making children’s photos public, one is exposing them to everyone and making it easier for a paedophile to find them,” the spokesman said.

Anyone who would like further information about safer internet use or would like to report any abuse online may visit the website www.besmartonline.org.mt.

Supportline 179, offers emotional support and crisis intervention to callers and also receives reports on online abuse.