Tematic discussion on protecting children in a digital age:

The misuse of technology in the abuse and exploitation of children

“Nature and scope of the problem”

Dr. Sergio STARO

Head of International Relation

Polizia delle Comunicazioni - Italian National Police

Vienna 12 April 2011

Postal and Communication Police ServicePostal and Communication Police Service

Areas of competence

• On-line Child pornography

• Critical Infrastructure

Protection

• Cyberterrorism

• Copyright• Copyright

• Satellite piracy

• E-Commerce

• Hacking

• Mail-related offences and stamp

forgery

• Control of radio frequencies

• On line Gaming and Betting

(law 266/’05)

• Operational cooperation with

foreign law enforcement agencies

(24h/7 days)

• Computer forensics

• Individuals arrested416 • Website monitored344.137

OperationalOperationalOperationalOperational resultsresultsresultsresults

• Individuals informedagainst6.928

• Search warrantsexecuted6.039

• Child porn sitesreported to foreingauthorities

11.026

• Child porn sites shutdown in Italy179

From September 1998 to March2011

MinorsMinorsMinorsMinors asasasas Internet Internet Internet Internet usersusersusersusers

50%

100%

93%

7%

0%Internet users Non Internet users

Minors - Internet users RATE

• Internet users 93%

• Non Internet users 7%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

19%

75,5%

Educational

Entertainment

whywhywhywhy minorsminorsminorsminors useuseuseuse Internet Internet Internet Internet

0%

10%

20%

30%

Educational Entertainment Social networking, chat

5,5% Social networking, chat

Purpose of Internet use RATE

Educational research 19%

Entertainment, recreation 5,5%

Social networks, chat 75,5%

wherewherewherewhere minorsminorsminorsminors log on log on log on log on

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

95%

5%

Domestic use RATE

Yes 95%

No 5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Home Outdoor

5%

whenwhenwhenwhen minorsminorsminorsminors go onlinego onlinego onlinego online

30%

40%

50%

60%51%

35%

13%

0%

10%

20%

morning afternoon evening night

1%

13%

Time frame RATE

morning 08-13 1%

afternoon 14-18 51%

evening 19-21 35%

night 22-24 13%

ParentsParentsParentsParents / / / / adultadultadultadult presencepresencepresencepresence

50%

100%

20%

39% 41%

ParentsParentsParentsParents / / / / adultadultadultadult presencepresencepresencepresence RATERATERATERATE

• Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, alwaysalwaysalwaysalways 20%20%20%20%

• Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, sometimessometimessometimessometimes 39%39%39%39%

• NeverNeverNeverNever 41%41%41%41%

0%Always Sometimes Never

. . . . WhatWhatWhatWhat risksrisksrisksrisks ????

ContactedContactedContactedContacted bybybyby potentialpotentialpotentialpotential paedophilespaedophilespaedophilespaedophiles in chatin chatin chatin chat

70%

80%

90%

100%

93%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Yes No

7%

50,00%

60,00%

70,00%61,50%

Nothing special

Feeling Feeling Feeling Feeling afterafterafterafter contactcontactcontactcontacteeeed d d d bybybyby potentialpotentialpotentialpotential paedophilespaedophilespaedophilespaedophiles

0,00%

10,00%

20,00%

30,00%

40,00%

RATE

15,30%

0%

7,60%

15,60%

Nothing special

Curiosity

Harassment, discomfort

Interest, attraction

Anger, disappointment

60%

70%

80%

90%

81%

Report Report Report Report totototo parentsparentsparentsparents

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Yes No

19%

WhyWhyWhyWhy notnotnotnot reportedreportedreportedreported totototo parentsparentsparentsparents????

25,00%

30,00%

35,00%

11,30%

33,50%

25%

16,60%

0,00%

5,00%

10,00%

15,00%

20,00%

Shame Promise Distrust Nothing wrong Curiosity

10,60%

11,30% 16,60%

Chat

DangerousDangerousDangerousDangerous placesplacesplacesplaces forforforfor teensteensteensteens

Internet , Social NetworksSMS / MMS

• 56% under 10 “can’t live without”

• 37% received from parents

• 30% makes more than 3 calls a day

• 42% credittoppedup by parents

Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile telephonytelephonytelephonytelephony

• 42% credittoppedup by parents

• 32% off-line at night

In Italy, • 50 % of minors believe “it is useful and makesme feel safer”• 30% consider “vital tool”

35000 SMS, MMS

MAN

MAN

MAN

GIRL

1200 hours of

OperationOperationOperationOperation BlueBlueBlueBlue CodeCodeCodeCode

MAN

GIRL

GIRL

MAN

1200 hours of

interception

4 months

8 cell number

OperationOperationOperationOperation BlueBlueBlueBlue CodeCodeCodeCode

Minors are the most

valuable resource of our

times.

They deserve to be

protected against abuse

and exploitation from

various threats given by

modern society and IT

means of

communication.