MOBILE PORNO, HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF IN CYBERSPACE

MOBILE PORNO

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF IN CYBERSPACE

 

Introduction

Internet is a global connection of networks and, therefore, it is difficult to exercise control over the Internet. Yet, control is necessary. To exercise maximum control, it is important to take actions at three fronts simultaneously,

1.     Legislation: laying down the rules and regulations as well as the policy;

2.     Technology: developing software programs;

3.     Information and education: making people aware as to the dangers of the Internet

        and the steps the legislative, executive, and the judiciary should take.  Also, raising awareness in society.

 

Legislation must be enacted so that Internet offences are punished. Fortunately, amendments to the Surinam Criminal Code have made some Internet offenses punishable. In addition, the government should lay down policy guidelines for ISPs (Internet Service Providers) to make cyber space safer.  For instance, ordering that certain software is installed as a filter to minimize the visiting of undesired sites such as those that incite to commit suicide or child pornography.

Regarding technology, software programs must be developed to make cyber space safer, but hackers are not just sitting around doing nothing. That is why this will remain an  ongoing activity to work with up to date software at all times and to continue monitoring that the software used is still valid. 

The most important of the three fronts is information and education; that is, awareness-building. The more aware people are of the threats and how to deal with these, from the President to the youngest Internet visitor, the better they will be able to safeguard themselves to maximally benefit from the use of the Internet and suffer minimal harm. Promoting cyber ethics, by encouraging people to make the “right choices” when searching for information on the Internet or establishing contacts via the Internet. 

 

In 2007 the Surinamese society was confronted with a new phenomenon.

A pornographic movie made by Surinamese youngsters was circulating on mobile phones. In January 2007, the first mobile phone movie circulated in Suriname whereby Surinamese youngsters were involved in pornographic behavior. In February, April, and November there were again new movies in circulation. In June 2007 there were two cases of which one was prosecuted. In January 2008 there were six new cases of which one was also prosecuted; four in February and one in March and April.  This situation was of great concern for the Surinamese community in general and, in particular, the government. It was even discussed in the Parliament. One person undertook an awareness campaign aimed at tackling this issue in a sensitive way. Two months after the start of this campaign, to be more specifically, after April 2008, up until today there were no longer pornographic movies of Surinamese youngsters in circulation on mobile phones. This paper, therefore, deals with the question whether or not it was because of the awareness campaign undertaken that it came to an end, eventually. Hereinafter follows an outline of the results with regard to this campaign.

 

Awareness project “Mobile Porno? Count me out!!! And its impact

This project was initiated by an employee of TELESUR (incumbent Telecom operator), Mrs. Marijke Etnel – Cairo. She has been working for TELESUR for over 20 years. When she was confronted for the first time with such a porn film, as a mother of three daughters, many things went through her mind. What’s happening with our youngsters, what can be done about it? Judge, condemn? Why they are doing it? That is when she got an idea! If you want to solve a problem, you have to find the root cause first. What urges a child to do something like this? Then, discuss it with your target group (youngsters at school) and find a solution together. In order to reach your target group you need to go to the schools. You need to have an open ear for the youth. Listen to them and let them know that we care about them. She thought it would be a good idea to go to the schools with a panel; have sessions at schools with the panel members, parents, teachers, neighborhood manager, and anybody who wanted to join.

This plan was shared with the Managing Director of TELESUR who fully supported this initiative. Given the complexity of this issue, she could not do it on her own. The project was thus undertaken in joint cooperation with TELESUR, the Police Force and the Ministry of Education.

 

 

Structure of the project

A meeting with the school management; afterwards, a talk with the children alone.

Why do you do it? What are the consequences? Talk with each other open and honestly. What makes a boy or girl take part in mobile porn? You get different answers because different factors and aspects lead to this phenomenon. No adults, teachers, parents are present during this stage. The children get the chance to vent themselves. What is shared within the group is confidential. The session is held at a designated school.

 

The session

A session like this is simple and much will be improvised. 30 pupils participate in the session. They are wearing a t-shirt saying: porn is not cool.

 

The panel consists of the following persons:

Central:           the Managing Director of TELESUR, and a representative of the Police

                        Force of Suriname (KPS)

Alternating:     a priest or minister

                        the head of the school

                        a social worker

                        a representative of the National Youth Parliament

                        a role model

Guests:            five parents whose children attend that school

five teachers

2 neighborhood managers from the area of the school

10 other persons

 

During a session, 2 to 3 questions are asked. Mobile porn is not discussed yet at this stage. We get to the subject subtly. The children get the chance to answer questions and to express their opinion. After that, the panel members, parents, teachers get the chance to give their opinion. The discussion is in a relaxed atmosphere, perhaps with a drink and a snack.

 

The Project

The project started on February 29, 2008, at Mulo Latour, a secondary school. Noteworthy, most of the schools are schools for education at secondary level. There was an introductory talk with 350 pupils.

In the panel were the Managing Director of TELESUR, a representative of the Police Force, the Head of School and Vice Chairman of Parliament.

The 3 questions that were asked:        Can the situation at home be the reason for

                                                            children making bad choices?

                                                            Are children today really materialistic?

                                                            Who is responsible for joining in? the boy or the

                                                            girl?

 

The pupils’ participation was really good. There were heated discussions.

The press was very well represented.

After this first school ten other secondary schools participated in this project. At every school there were questions asked to made children think about the subject and draw there own conclusions.

Apart from the schools that were included in the project, Major Kolf and Mrs. Etnel also held other sessions on Educational days of companies, schools and other institutions where youth participated.

Evaluation

The response from the community was very positive. The main objective was achieved for 100%, namely to make the children more aware of their self-respect, making the right choices, and to say no to mobile porno. On all the schools questionnaires were submitted to the pupils. The result of the survey is the following:

76%   children feel that they do not have a stable situation at home

69%   are living under sexual pressure

78%   are being abused by their parents

79%   are neglected

58%   are neglected because their parents spend too much time in casinos

80%   do not have any social supervision at home                         

62%   get derailed because they are looking for love and affection. 

 

In the meantime a foundation was established from the project, namely: M.A.T.I. fu te go, which stands for moral, attitude and integrity for a better community for the Suriname youth.

 

The project had a great impact on the community. It even received reactions from people abroad. Other projects are already in the making to make children and parents aware of the problems that our children are dealing with. Children are learning how to protect themselves against sexual molestation.

 

The foundation M.A.T.I. fu te go, with chairperson Marijke Etnel  wants to be a true friend (mati) for all Surinamese children!

 

Conclusion

As indicated before, two months after the start of this campaign there were no longer pornographic movies made by Surinamese youngsters circulating on mobile phones.

The lesson learnt from the project of Mrs. Etnel is that, indeed, the most important front to keep ourselves and children safe is by educating them, raise the awareness of the pitfalls they can encounter in life and on the Internet, give them a sense of pride and self-respect. Because of the broad media coverage the Surinamese society was now thinking of and discussing with each other. The youngsters became aware of the consequences and were better equipped to make the right choice.

 

Marjorie S. Rieskin