Data involving the engagement of minors in online sexual activity is being collected by the National Security Ministry.
At the same time, Cyber Crime Unit police are tracking resurgence of a local porn site which has been using the names and locations of some schools and well-known business places to “identify” pictures of nude and semi-nude females. National Security Minister Edmund Dillion confirmed this yesterday.
Information reaching the Guardian confirmed that some pictures on the local porn site carry the names of various schools and businesses to describe the women. Secondary schools and tertiary institutions from East, South, Central and North were named.
Some website content had complaints about the use of material, including that requests to remove some pictures were not heeded and about the violation of people’s privacy.
Around the time that matter arose in February, the Education Ministry had met with the Ministry of National Security to discuss the issue of online pornography and other cyber offences that impact negatively on students at schools.
The Police Cyber Crime Unit has confirmed investigation of the porn website.
The unit said they had found that some websites register in far-off countries like the Soviet Union to avoid being nabbed by cybercrime laws.
The Cyber Crime Unit and Police Fraud Squad investigated last June’s hacking and social media distribution of hundreds of pictures of nude females. Some of those pictures ended up on a porn site.
Education report: Deal with students’ online sexual activity
The issue of online pornography and other cyber offences which impact negatively on students is listed among matters in a report from the Education Ministry.
The document was laid in the Senate on Tuesday. The report was in response to a Parliamentary Joint Select Committee (Social Services and Public Administration) examination concerning management of violence problems in school, with focus on bullying. A section of the report dealt with students and online sexual activity.
According to the report, the committee recommended that Education make representation to the Ministry of the Attorney General/Legal Affairs regarding the need to ensure that Cyber Offences/Crime legislation include provisions regarding various forms of cyberbullying involving minors and children.
The report stated that on February 7, 2017, the Education Ministry met with the Ministry of National Security to discuss the issue of online pornography and other cyber offences that impact negatively on students at schools.
“Currently, data involving the engagement of minors in online sexual activity is being collected by the Ministry of National Security.”
On this, Dillon added, “And the Cyber Crime Unit is investigating this.”
He was also informed of the local porn website matter.
The Education report had stated, “All electronic devices which Education supplies to schools have been outfitted with firewalls and other protective mechanisms that prevent student access to certain sites.”
The report also stated principals have been mandated to inform the police of infractions committed by students that are criminal in nature including engaging in sexual activity.
Principals mandated to make reports
On the use of schools’ names (and locations) to describe some females pictured in the current website, Education Minister Anthony Garcia said the ministry was aware of undesirable pictures which had been posted.
Video recordings of students engaging in oral sex, with faces and uniforms clearly has also been confirmed. The situation was being monitored, especially in secondary schools.
Garcia said, however, there has been a reduction of these types of activities.
“We encourage principals to caution students not to take (such) pictures or allow these to be taken, or allow it or themselves to be used by others,” he added.
“Students caught using cellphones to take such pictures face several disciplinary actions. Under policy, where students are allowed cell phones in school, there should be no cameras. But it’s a serious challenge since every cell phone has a camera.
“We appeal to parents to discourage students from engaging in such behaviour or allowing themselves to be coerced into it.”
