While the internet provided opportunities to access, store and post information, there was also a large volume of inappropriate content as well as child sexual abuse images and harmful material.
Cape Town - In an effort to clamp down on Child Sexual Abuse Material and other online crimes, the Film and Publication Board (FPB) has issued a legal notice to internet access and internet service providers (ISP) to report on measures they have taken to prevent the scourge.
The gazetted legal notice, published on Friday, obliges ISPs to comply with a list of provisions listed within 90 days.
These include providing reports to the FPB on all reasonable steps taken to prevent the use of their services for the hosting or distribution of child pornography and propaganda for war etc.
ISPs also have to let the FPB know whether they have reported the presence thereof, as well as the particulars of the person maintaining, hosting or distributing or in any manner contributing to such internet address to a police official.
As well as reasonable steps taken to preserve such evidence for purposes of investigation and prosecution by the relevant authorities.
FPB’s interim chief executive officer, Dr Mashilo Boloka, said: “We sincerely hope that the operators will be open and honest in their reporting. Based on the reports we receive, the FPB will determine whether to make this a compulsory reporting requirement every quarter.
Concurrent to this notice, we will also be analysing the various co-regulatory industry codes and working with co-regulators to ensure alignment with the amendment act and its regulations.”
Molo Songololo director, Patric Solomons, said while the internet provided opportunities to access, store and post information, there was also a large volume of inappropriate content as well as child sexual abuse images and harmful material.
“We do have a big problem... While ISPs and platforms have an obligation to ensure the protection of children, there is no uniformity and no specific standard when it comes to reporting on the measures they are taking to identify harmful or child sexual exploitation content..
“Under the law everyone has to report a crime against a child, we all have an obligation to report early.”
On the move by the FPB, he added: “As Molo Songololo, we believe this can help clean up the internet and identify possible harmful material early.
Besides content, using various platforms to identify victims, sexual bullying, grooming of children, that also happens... If such activity can be identified early, abuse and the exploitation of children can possibly be prevented”
Cape Times
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