Global net force to hunt child abusers

[emad]

By Rebecca Mowling, Evening Standard
26 January 2005

Children will be able to report internet paedophiles with a click of the mouse under new plans announced today.

Officers from Britain's National Crime Squad, the US and Interpol are spearheading an international child protection force to curb child abuse.

From today, children who realise they are being "groomed" by suspected paedophiles using internet chatrooms will be able to email the messages to police from the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT).
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/16145811?source=Evening%20Standard

[terryg11]

1. that's great if the kid has internet access

Wonder when they will do something about rich westerners going to third world countries to have sex with children? I think I've still got a copy of a newsstory from last year about one Pacific rim country that had to go to the US embassy to plead their case about Haliburton employees encouraging the kiddie sex trade. Haliburton eventually recalled those employees back home. Nice

[jswordy]

2. Yeah, and that's great if the kid...

...isn't just using it to retaliate against a parent who had disciplined him or her. Or if the kid isn't just doing it as a prank.

Seems to me a lot of innocent adults could have their lives turned into living hell with this lil concept.

[terryg11]

3. salem witch trials anyone?

there's real potential for misuse here sure. I just hope they don't rely totally on a child's testimony. lord knows there have been plenty of examples of kids being coached into saying what was needed

[chenGOD]

5. While I agree the potential is there...

don't the kids have to send the actual offending messages?

I know it's not all that difficult to spoof an IM message, but maybe the average 10-12 year old kids being targeted won't know how to?

Anyways, I think it's a good thing, as long as it's properly monitored.

[Rush1184]

4. Exactly....

I remember the early days of AOL chat rooms when people, mostly kids, would just report people they did not like for bullshit TOS violations.

[Southern Dem 2005]

6. Great idea!

Hopefully this will lead to real results. Not too concerned about the possibility of this type of program being misused.