Cyber Safety: Post pictures of your babies, kids on social networks at your own risk. Authorities warn that these photos may make their way to pornographic sites, writes June Moh
PICTURES of you cuddling your adorable baby, who is still wearing a nappy; images of your gorgeous teenage daughter moments before her prom night; or snapshots of your swimsuit clad family during a beachside vacation. They may all seem like everyday, ordinary photos proud parents cannot wait to share with friends and family.
Unfortunately, once these pictures are out in the elusive and perilous world wide web, many can skew, modify and sicken seemingly precious family moments.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has received 652 complaints last year and 151 as at March this year, mostly on the spread of indecent photos and videos of complainants across all age groups.
Pictures of children are not spared.
“Some photos were used inappropriately. For example, a celebrity found a photo of his then 3-year-old son uploaded on a pornographic website. Photos posted by celebrities have the tendency to gain in popularity and go viral,” says MCMC’s senior director of the advocacy and outreach division, Eneng Faridah Iskandar.
A screenshot shared on social media of a chat group with 751 members that contained lewd comments about a prepubescent girl clad in a swimsuit has raised concerns about how easily images of children posted online by their parents can be downloaded by strangers and used for purposes they may not like.
It seems that sexual predators are prowling for photos of children from unsuspecting social media users.
When a complaint is lodged with MCMC, it will be evaluated under the provisions of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
If there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a breach under this act has been committed, MCMC will investigate to obtain the evidence that will prove the case.
Eneng says the process of investigation involves recording statements from the complainant and persons related to the case, conducting raids to obtain the necessary documentary evidence and performing digital forensic analysis on the devices confiscated.
“Once the investigation is completed, it will be submitted to the attorney-general for a decision on whether to close the case due to lack of evidence, issue a compound or proceed with prosecution in court.
“If the attorney-general decides to prosecute, MCMC may be called to give evidence in court,” Eneng says.
Local pornographic sites can be blocked from Malaysian viewers, but they can still be accessed in other countries.
Last year, Australian Fairfax media reported that Australia’s new Children’s eSafety Commissioner revealed that about half the material found on paedophile sites appeared to be sourced directly from social media.
The images were labelled in folders entitled “my daughter’s Instagram friends” and “kids at beach”, accompanied by highly explicit and very disturbing user comments.
Asked if MCMC had taken any measures to monitor similar activities in Malaysia, Eneng says cases involving paedophiles are within the police’s jurisdiction and police have set up a special Child Cyber Sexual Investigation unit to track down those involved.
“MCMC’s role is to provide technical assistance (to trace the source), if required.
“There is nothing wrong with sharing photos of children online with friends and family.
“However, if parents do not know how to manage privacy settings, the photos and videos they think they are only sharing with loved ones could be viewed by anybody, including identity thieves, paedophiles, kidnappers and the rest of the world,” says Eneng.
The convenience of sharing photos with friends through social networking sites is undeniable. So, too, are the dangers.
Stolen photos can be used by strangers in unfavourable ways, such as uploading them to pornographic sites.
“Some photos, especially those taken with phones or devices with GPS (global positioning system) technology can contain location tags that reveal exactly where the photos were snapped.
“If a parent takes a photo of his or her child playing at home and then posts it online, it is possible for strangers to know exactly where they live,” says Eneng.
Social networking sites are havens for identity thieves as they scan these sites for possible victims. Stolen identities could be used by paedophiles in the profiling of children.
“Children can innocently provide information to these thieves. Therefore, it is important for parents to limit access to personal information, including photos,” says Eneng.
MCMC has set up the MCMC Complaints Bureau to handle complaints with regard to communications and multimedia services.
“We strongly encourage the public to submit complaints should they come across sites that contravene the provisions of Section 211 (prohibition on provision of offensive content) and Section 233 (improper use of network facilities or network service) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
“MCMC will evaluate each complaint on whether the content found online meets the elements of an offence before any enforcement action is taken,” says Eneng.
United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund Malaysia child protection specialist Selvi Supramaniam says there is no easy line that can be drawn between activities leading to benefits and those leading to risks on the Internet because whatever happens online is a reflection of society at large.
Rather than focus on parents and guardians alone, there is a pressing need to promote the appropriate use of images of children on all platforms, including digital and social platforms, recognising that children are frequently at risk of abuse, discrimination, stigma or other exploitation if their name or visual identity is known.
“With the growing use of mobile devices, it is essential that parents and guardians, as well as children and young people themselves, are clear on what it takes to be cyber-safe.
“When it comes to posting photos of our children on social media, parents should ensure that the photos they post do not embarrass or harm the child in any way.
“Some moments should remain private, such as bath time and all personal details should be kept off social media, such as addresses and other information,” says Selvi.
Online abuse and exploitation often take place in the privacy of the mobile phone, the computer or any other electronic device.
It can move anonymously from the private to the public sphere quickly.
Selvi stresses that cyber safety is not just the responsibility of parents and children.
National authorities, law enforcement, civil society and Internet providers are key actors of responsibility and accountability in this matter, she says.
“Providing children, young people and parents with knowledge and skills on how to identify abuse and ways to protect themselves and their peers need also to be at the heart of these efforts.
“We must also ensure that children, who have already experienced abuse and exploitation online, such as in the case of misuse of photos online, are identified quickly and are able to receive proper support. Perpetrators should also be quickly apprehended and prosecuted.
“There are laws in Malaysia that protect Internet users and MCMC also has strict guidelines and regulations in place.
“However, in a world where technology changes so quickly, there is always a need to review and enhance legislation to better protect children,” says Selvi.
Voice of the Children chairman Sharmila Sekaran suggests that children should be allowed to have informed consent when people want to take or share their photos.
In this digital era, we lose control of information and photos shared online even though we restrict access to it with security settings.
“We have to teach children what is right and wrong when people take pictures of them. Train them to be aware that other people should get their permission to have their photos taken,” Sharmila says.
Before a photo is taken by anybody, adults accompanying their children should ask those who want to take photos of their children whether they are going to share then on social media, she says.
“You can limit the privacy setting of your post with security settings on social media sites. Your friends and relatives who are allowed to view the photos can still share it with someone else.
“Parents should code and encrypt the photos so that it cannot be downloaded by people and viewers cannot obtain the photo.
“A picture is worth a thousand words. People with sinister intentions know how to profile a child by looking at a picture.
“For example, (they can find out) which areas a child goes to for his or her regular activities and where their school is,” Sharmila says.
She says if something happens to a child, the law must go after the perpetrator. Unfortunately, the law is wanting when it comes to online exploitation of children.
“The Child Act (Amendment) 2015 has been strengthened on parents’ negligence. However, sharing photos of their children on social media is not part of that. If any untoward events arise from parents sharing photos of their children online, they will not be charged,” Sharmila says.