technology enables inappropriate content
14 May 2008

The reports were commissioned by a Department of Home Affairs' Ministerial Task Team that includes the Film and Publications Board (FPB), with the ultimate aim of finding ways of combating child pornography in the country.  At a parliamentary press conference, deputy home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba said the reports would be used as a basis for the next National Conference on Child Pornography that will coincide with International Children's Day, on 1 June 2008.

Gigaba said the findings of the reports will be used to help strengthen the FPB Act, the law that governs publishing material, and – while consideration is being given to an overarching anti-child pornography law – “…we want the FPB Act to be a living law so it can keep up with changes in technology”.

The reports are titled “Report on Internet Usage and the Exposure of Pornography to Learners in South African Schools”, completed in 2006; the “The Use of Pornography in South Africa”, completed in 2007; and “Technology Puts Children Under Threat” that was completed this year.  Analize van Wyk (ANC MP), chairman of the Ministerial Task Team on Child Pornography, says little previous research had been done into child pornography in SA and that the advent of technology, such as the Internet and cellular phones, had increased the incidence of it.

The first report finds that 67% of children, between the ages of 13 to 17, had reportedly seen a pornographic film, and 64% had been exposed to pornography on the Internet, and 60% had exchanged pornographic Web addresses with their friends.  Eighty-one percent of children who have their own cellular phones have reported knowledge of pornographic images on their friends' phones. Less than half of the children surveyed reported that they read pornographic magazines. 

Children (73%) who had watched pornographic material say that seeing it does have long-term harmful effects, but less than half (43%) say they feel uncomfortable watching such films and 51% say it made them more curious about sex.  The second report recommends that computers and cellphones should have filtering software installed and parents must be aware of potential dangers. It also recommends that PCs and cellphones should be sold with information packs and warnings.

The third report states: “… the Internet and cellphones are regarded by children as a trusted and intimate friend and, therefore, intrusion of inappropriate content must be viewed in the light of a violation of both their trust and personal space”.  This reports also states that 60% of the children surveyed want cellphones to be regulated and 64% felt the same way about the Internet.
Van Wyk said there has been a lot of cooperation from industry, particularly the Internet service providers and the wireless application providers, but that more needs to be done.

She would like to see a similar situation as the UK, where Internet service providers fund a hi-tech centre, set up to catch paedophiles and others exposing children to pornography, which is manned by the law enforcement agencies.

Paul Vecchiatto, www.itweb.co.za