|
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Oledan: On-line child porno
By Radzini Oledan
Slice of life
"The proposal still has to be acted upon. For now, thousands of children are falling prey to syndicates which are raking in profit from child pornography."
CHILD pornography is a US$1 billion industry in the Philippines and still growing.
During a Senate committee hearing, it was bared that the Philippines has become the fourth biggest producer of child pornographic materials in the form of illicit videos, magazines and Internet content.
Around 60,000 of our children, ages 10 years and below are estimated to fall victims to pornography. The figure could even be higher considering the underground nature of the malady and the lack of mechanism to monitor the clandestine activity.
Child pornography is generally defined as any material that depicts a person under 16 years of age, in a manner that would offend a reasonable adult. Often, there is a depiction of sexual activity by the child or some other person in the presence of the child.
It is bad enough that there is absence of a law against child pornography. It is worse that distribution of porn materials has become faster and easier with the use of the Internet.
Yes, for all its advantages, the Internet has also fueled the demand for child pornography and expanded the existing market by providing social, individual and technological circumstances in which an interest in child pornography flourishes.
The Internet has been used to create a self-justifying online community for child pornography users. Through its use, materials can be accessed and communicated within a network of syndicates which at the same time, providing a private sphere for the _expression of sexual fantasy using children in an online interaction or arranging possible physical meetings.
There is a proposed online child protection law patterned after a US legislation that was passed in 1998. The proposed "Cybercrime Prevention Act" seeks to penalize any person engaged in the online distribution and publication of child pornography.
Specifically, the bill classifies the following acts as criminal offense: "producing child pornography for the purpose of distribution through a computer system or network; offering or making available child pornography through a computer system or network; or distributing or transmitting child pornography through a computer system or network."
The proposal still has to be acted upon. For now, thousands of children are falling prey to syndicates, which are raking in profit from child pornography.
It is not easy to monitor Internet use especially those in private enclaves. Despite pronouncements of authorities, even in our own city, there is difficulty in just prohibiting minors from entering Internet cafe's during class. On-line sexual exploitation of our children can go on unnoticed. Daily, these children not only face an assault on developing their sense of identity but a blow to their construction of the world as a safe environment, including developing their sense of trusting people. The impact could be profound than we can imagine. For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here.
(February 2, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
