New study reveals the growth of online child porn

E-Brief News report that since the late 1980s, the number of child-porn offenders has risen dramatically. And police agencies and Internet experts believe the link between the rise in paedophile porn crimes and Internet usage is more than just a coincidence. A new study – the first of its kind into child pornography in SA – has revealed that there are more than a million obscene images of children available at the click of a mouse. The study, commissioned by the Film and Publications Board, was conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council amid growing concern about the multiplication of child-abuse images on the Internet. A summary of the study will be released later this year. The Times reveals that the secrecy of the crime has made it difficult to determine ‘the true extent of the problem in SA, which may never be known’. Co-researcher Advaita Govender said some experts estimated there were more than a millions images available electronically and the figure was rising. ‘The crime is generally such a clandestine one it can’t be likened to other crimes such as murder or robbery where there’ll be a body of physical evidence to show a crime has occurred,\' said Govender. Iyavar Chetty, senior executive officer of the Film and Publications Board, said the body was involved with the National Prosecuting Authority and police on the investigation and prosecution of child pornography offenders. Alan Levin, immediate past chairman of the Internet Society of SA, said service providers were concerned about becoming censors. ‘What is child pornography and what isn’t? It’s not something service providers feel they are qualified to determine,’ he said. Over the past few weeks there have been a number of alarming new cases which continue to highlight the dangers of child pornography. A music teacher who last year appeared in court on charges of indecent assault and possession of child pornography, has been locked up after being caught once again with a boy. According to a report on the IoL site, off-duty police officers spotted the notorious paedophile sitting with a 17-year-old boy and another 21-year-old man at a popular pub near Johannesburg. The court heard that police had found child porn during a raid on his house during their investigation of three indecent assault charges. They found photographs, DVDs and computer software used to produce the porn. The youth who was with the man in the pub last week is the same boy whose face appears on the pictures confiscated from the man\'s house last year. Full report in The Times Full report on the IoL site

In Canada, a man who ran an after-school programme – and who is alleged to have posed as a clergyman – is now facing charges of possessing and making available child pornography. The Star reports that pornographic photos were found on the Internet by the National Child Exploitation Co-ordination Centre and linked to the home of a Toronto man. Soon after, Toronto police were notified and made an arrest. Michael Harman who faces three charges, previously volunteered at two schools in the area, and has represented himself falsely as a member of the clergy by using fake business cards, police say. Full report in The Star

Also in Canada, nine men have been arrested as part of a worldwide crackdown on people who shared child sex videos over the Internet. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superintendent Earla-Kim McColl said the arrests were part of an ongoing investigation code-named Project Koala, which has implicated about 2 500 people worldwide. According to a report on the IoL site, the videos, ranging from girls in provocative poses to a father raping his young daughters, were sold to clients in 19 countries including teachers, doctors, lawyers and computer experts, said Menno Hagemeijer of the pan-European police organisation Europol. The operation included Germany, Italy, Belgium and Britain. European authorities revealed in November they arrested more than 92 men. France announced 20 arrests last year. Full report on the IoL site

A senior German judge was temporarily removed from his post after images of child pornography were discovered on a private computer. The official, chairman of the Hamburg social welfare law tribunal, had requested leave during an inquiry. A panel of fellow judges in the northern city ruled that the allegations were so grave that he must give up his post for the time being. According to a report on the IoL site, he is allowed two weeks to appeal. Full report on the IoL site

A police dispatcher is accused of posting photos of teen water-polo players alongside more graphic pictures on a gay-pornography Web site. Some of the boys seen on the sites were as young as 14. \'Rich,\' who doesn\'t want to be identified to protect his children who play water polo, says he\'s been able to recognise at least 30 children. He says the photos were taken at competitions, but inappropriately posted on gay porn sites. ABC News reports that \'Rich\' says the inappropriate photos show students from more than a dozen high schools in Orange County alone. Full ABC News report