KINSA Blog

KINSA Applauds Ontario Attorney General for Changes Made to the Victims Bill of Rights

Toronto, Ontario - KINSA, the Kids' Internet Safety Alliance, is pleased that Ontario's Attorney General, The Honourable Chris Bentley, has today made an important change to regulations under the Victims Bill of Rights to empower victims of internet child exploitation to seek financial compensation directly from an offender for their suffering.

This change serves as a further deterrent to offenders as any lawsuit would be in addition to penalties imposed by the criminal court.

"Internet child exploitation is a growing problem in our society. We are pleased that the Ontario government is taking another step to fight this insidious crime and hold offenders accountable for their actions," said Paul Gillespie, President & CEO of KINSA.

The Centre for Innovation Law & Policy also brought this idea forward in their 2007 report Staying Safely Connected: Updated Strategies for Protecting Children and Youth from Exploitation online - A project of the Microsoft Safe Computing Program. KINSA participated in the forum that preceded that report and utilized the report as part of a presentation of key recommendations by KINSA to the Ontario Attorney General.

"It is our hope that Ontario is just the first province to adopt this initiative and that others will follow. We need to send as strong a signal as possible that the sexual abuse of children and the posting of these images on the internet will simply not be tolerated," said Gillespie. "This regulation isn't the final answer to deterring this crime, but it is an important step in the right direction and we thank the Minister and his government for taking this step."

About KINSA

The Kids' Internet Safety Alliance (KINSA) was established as an aggressive and proactive response to the negative aspects of the Internet that harm young people. While addressing this grave social problem, KINSA also acknowledges and celebrates the positive, creative and inspiring ways children and youth are using the Internet.

For more information, please contact

KINSA Kids' Internet Safety Alliance
Paul Gillespie
416-850-1449
info@kinsa.net
www.kinsa.net

See also:

McGuinty Government Improves Justice For Victims Of Child Pornography And Hate Crimes
-    includes backgrounders on Fighting Child Pornography And Hate Crimes

KINSA first presented this idea to the Attorney General a few months ago and we are very pleased that he took the idea up and he is bringing it into law.

Heroes of the Fight ... and random acts of cupcakes!

There's an event coming up that I mentioned in a previous blog entry called "Heroes of the Fight" - it's an important event one that honours people who put themselves completely out there to help children who are victims of child exploitation.

I'm going to the event and taking some of the moms who helped me start the Mothers Online Movement - we  are really looking forward to it and I know that they are going to be more inspired than ever when they get to hear the amazing efforts of those being honoured. As I thought about the event I started to feel a bit guilty because I haven't had the opportunity to blog, or get much stuff done in the past 6 weeks as it relates to MOM. I got a new job and as most jobs are in the first few months of starting - it's been to say the least, crazy. Lucky for me I love my job ... and it is thanks to my job that I'm involved in this issue at all. Thanks is an odd word for me to use I guess - why would I be thankful to be in any way involved in the issue of online child exploitation? As difficult as it can be sometimes and there is no question that it has changed my life in ways that I occasionally wish it hadn't - I am thankful, so thankful that no matter how little the effort - I can do something to help.

So this brings me to one of things that I just haven't got done - it's a simple idea called "random acts of cupcakes and the idea is that you get together with a group of friends or work colleagues (you get to pick who) and bake a bunch of cupcakes and sell them for a $1.00 each (or whatever you think) to anyone who'll buy them (randomly) with proceeds going to the Mothers Online Movement. I was telling one of my friends how guilty I was feeling for not doing this yet and she said "Paula, just share the idea - you'll be surprised what people can do with a good idea." So there you go - shared my idea and if you e-mail me at mom@kinsa.net, I'll send you back the information to promote your "random acts of cupcakes" event. In a perfect world, this will trigger lots of "random acts of cupcakes" and we will make a difference for children who are victims of online child exploitation (because people will pay a $1 for your cup cake!).

So I started the blog with reference to "Heroes of the Fight" - these are the real heroes who fight every day to save a child - they inspire me to do stuff like write this blog and get stuff done  - I'm thankful to them!

Paula Knight
Mothers Online Movement (MOM) Founder and
KINSA Advisory Board
www.mothersonlinemovement.ca

New word of the month - "sexting"

I must say that I have been quite impressed with the quality and volume of online safety awareness that was created during Internet Safety month in February. I am in fact only now getting through it all and thought (although a bit of a side step from my typical topic) that some of what I've seen is worth sharing with those who read this blog. I also think it's important to share this stuff, especially as I know many of you struggle as I do with keeping our kids safe online, while at the same trying to appear as though we are so in tune with their world.

So if you haven't watched them yet, I highly recommend the new videos created by KINSA that really do a good job at educating us on the places our kids are going, what they are doing (things we may or may not know) and provide pratical strategies on things like social networks and gaming. (You can find KINSA's Virtually Safe videos here.) For those of you that have teenagers, here are some interesting insights on online behaviours from Microsoft Canada and Youthography (Internet Safety - Microsoft Canada and Youthography Online Safety Survey) - things you may not want to know, but should know.

There are also some terms circulating the media that you might be interested in knowing a little more about - for example "sexting", a phenomenon that involves kids either texting provocative pictures of themselves or others to friends. This is one of those ones I believe requires greater adult intervention, simply because we know that kids think of themselves as invincible in this virtual world, but once those images are out there, they are out there ... we need to help our kids from themselves (and others) on this one.

This story provides more insight:

March 14, 2009
Teens using cellphones for ‘sexting’ finding themselves in trouble: experts

So what did I learn in terms of some simple tips to keep my kiddies safe online while helping them explore the magic that is the Internet? My kids are still young, yet very engaged in the online world, so I've found that creating a personalized folder with all the kid-friendly URLs works like a charm. I'm happy to share the list of "go to" spots that I have in my young'ns folder if anyone is interested - let me know via mom@kinsa.net.

And remember, you can always go to www.mothersonlinemovement.ca to learn more and see what you can do to help, and/or join our Facebook cause page, at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/124291?m=5aa42af8.

Paula Knight
Mothers Online Movement (MOM) Founder and
KINSA Advisory Board
www.mothersonlinemovement.ca

3rd Annual Heroes of the Fight Celebration - Wednesday, June 3, 2009

KINSA is delighted to announce the organization's 2009 fundraising event – a cocktail reception fundraising evening featuring a live jazz performance by Juno winner Richard Underhill with a charity casino and a magnificent silent auction. All are invited to attend.

Date: Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Berkeley Church
315 Queen Street East, Toronto

Ticket price: $100

Sponsorships available – click here for more information.

For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and more information, contact Kristin Neudorf at:

E-mail: kneudorf@kinsa.netTelephone: (416) 850-1449

On Safer Internet Day, KINSA Adds Another Tool for Parents to Keep Kids Safe Online

February 10, 2009 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Today KINSA, the Kids’ Internet Safety Alliance added another tool for parents to keep kids safe on-line. KINSA has launched an educational video, available for viewing online, to educate parents on the steps they can take to keep kids safe.

"Today is 'Safer Internet Day' around the world and we felt it was a good time to launch this important tool to help parents. KINSA believes the fight against the exploitation children has to involve everyone - and especially parents and caregivers," said Dr. Gary Ellis, co-producer of the video and a member of the KINSA board of directors. "We identified a gap in the information that was available to parents and sought to fill it by producing a video that educates parents on social networking, instant messaging, online gaming and virtual worlds."

"Parents I talk to across the country and around the world are overwhelmed. The technology is moving fast and many are nervous. They simply don't know what their children are doing online," said Paul Gillespie, President & CEO of KINSA. "This video gives these parents some assurance by giving them some knowledge."

"The Province of Ontario is proud to be associated with this production. The work KINSA is doing to educate parents, kids and the general public in how to keep kids safe online is important and we applaud these efforts," said the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Ontario's Minister of Education.

The videos are available here on the KINSA Web site and can be downloaded for free.

Support for the production of the video was provided by the Ministry of Education in the Province of Ontario, by HSBC Bank and other donors.

About KINSA

The Kids' Internet Safety Alliance (KINSA) was established as an aggressive and proactive response to the negative aspects of the Internet that harm young people. While addressing this grave social problem, KINSA also acknowledges and celebrates the positive, creative and inspiring ways children and youth are using the Internet.

For more information, contact Paul Gillespie
416-850-1449
info@kinsa.net

Background

These videos are designed to help parents and educators better understand what their children and students are doing on the Internet. They take the viewer through some of the most common places that kids access on the Internet, explaining click-by-click how these programs and sites work, and some of the dangers children may encounter while using them.

Social Networking

Online social networking has grown rapidly in the past few years, and there is no doubt that it’s an incredibly useful communication tool and a fun way to stay in touch with friends. This video takes a closer look at online social networking, specifically looking at how Facebook works, and the basic safety features that help keep kids safe while they’re using it.

Instant Messaging

Instant messaging is one of the fastest and easiest ways to communicate over the computer or cell phone. This video takes a closer look at instant messaging, specifically looking at how MSN Live Messenger works, and the basic safety features that help keep kids safe while they’re using it.

Online Gaming

Online games allow kids to take their computer game experience to new heights, as they have access to a multitude of areas and levels, that come with numerous challenges and scenarios to keep players interested, and the fun of playing with (or against) millions of other online players. This video takes a closer look at online gaming, specifically looking at how World of Warcraft works, and the basic safety features that help keep kids safe while they’re using it.

Virtual Worlds

Virtual worlds allow people to explore new worlds, meet people and stay in touch with friends. This video takes a closer look at virtual worlds, specifically looking at how Second Life works, and the basic safety features that help keep kids safe while they’re using it.

Too many or not enough?

I’ve lost count of the number of "child pornography bust, XX arrested" headlines I’ve read over the past few years.  I wasn't sure whether to write that I've read too many or not enough? I guess it's both - too many because it feels like a kick in the stomach for most of us to read over and over again of how many individuals in our own backyard seem to draw such pleasure from downloading images of young children being sexually abused. Again this week there were 31 of them caught by Ontario Police Services.

But then again, surely it's not enough because across the country, we know that 45,000 men are trafficking in computer images of young children being sexually abused and violated. Research consistently shows that 40 per cent of these men are also actively abusing kids, which means there are at least 16,000 child abusers across the country. It is staggering - so why aren't we catching more?   

The media reported broadly in the past week that one of the reasons is that Canadian Law Enforcement is "under resourced" so I ask myself, why aren't we giving them the resources they need?  I'm quickly reminded of my own experience working with law enforcement and Microsoft Canada to develop the Child Exploitation Tracking System. Through this work I met the most incredible police officers and got to see the realities of the resource challenges they face. These are extraordinary men and women who through their work see daily horrors that no human should. I'm reminded of how grateful I am to them, how grateful we should all be to them.

The challenges facing law enforcement are complex, they need more manpower directed at this issue, they need the right technology to get ahead of the bad guys, they need training and the tools to collaborate, they need the legal system to be on their side. They need government and the private sector to come together and help, not hinder them.  Most of all they need us as a society to start asking questions - which websites host child pornography sites and why? who processes payments for child pornography images and why? Why aren't sentences for those who sexually abuse children tougher - why? As a society we need to start demanding answers.

So as I reflect back on my original question - there are too many children being sexually abused and exploited online and as a society we're not doing enough.

Go to www.mothersonlinemovement.ca to see what you can do to help and or/join our Facebook cause page.

Paula Knight
Mothers Online Movement (MOM) Founder and
KINSA Advisory Board
www.mothersonlinemovement.ca