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Internet, Facebook, cell phones are `children's gates to porn'
The Jakarta Post , JAKARTA | Thu, 06/04/2009 12:51 PM | National
Sophisticated cell phones and online social networks like Facebook have been accused of providing children access to pornography amid the government's weakness to block and filter adult content over the Internet, an expert said Wednesday.
"When children are equipped with sophisticated cell phones, they can easily access pornographic material like pictures and videos," University of Indonesia criminologist, Ni Made Martini told The Jakarta Post, after a seminar about online child pornography at the university's campus in Depok, West Java, on Wednesday.
Martini expressed her anger about the widespread distribution of pornographic material over the Internet and phones to children under 18.
She said the decrease in cellular phone and Internet costs had lead to uninhibited access to the cyber world.
"Cell phones are getting much cheaper. You don't need to spend millions of rupiah to buy a cell phone with Internet capability and a camera," Made said.
With a camera phone, children can freely take photos and share them with their friends using Bluetooth technology. Without realizing, these pictures can be shared with hundreds of other children.
"I'm afraid not all these photos are *polite' enough," she added.
Internet-enabled phones have allowed children access to any websites they desire, including Facebook, anywhere, anytime, without supervision.
In fact, Facebook's administrators have recently developed an integrated system with cell phones. Facebook users are now able to access their accounts and upload photos and videos directly from their phones.
All people need is a camera cell phone with Internet capability.
"Facebook may be a blessing for the advancement of science and technology. However, science and technology can be a necessity but also a moral destroyer when they are misused," Martini said.
According to her, parents play a crucial role in protecting children from porn. "Parents don't need to buy their children sophisticated cell phones. I think a Rp 300,000 *US$28* cell phone is enough for a high school student," she said.
She also advised parents not to place computers with Internet access in private rooms. "Put your computer in a room where you can easily see the screen and observe the websites your children use," Martini said.
"Unfortunately, many parents I know are ill-informed about technology, unlike their children. Children sometimes fool their parents by hiding pornographic material on their computer," she said.
According to Edmon Makarim, who works for the communications ministry, the 2008 Electronic Information and Transaction Law stipulates limitations on porn on the Internet. "The basis of this law is that people have to take responsibility for whatever they do on the Internet," he said at the seminar. (bbs)
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Pauline Bezzant (not verified) — Thu, 06/11/2009 - 10:12am
Please, I hope Indonesia will not go the same way as Singapore. Censorship and government control is not the way forward for this country during this transition period. You have had enough control with Soeharto. Now, it's time for the people to embrace the internet and open up their minds, and get thinking. This is not possible without free flow of information and freedom of speech to encourage critical thought. The government concerns itself with morals and maintaining cross cultural harmony, but censorship is not the way to promote these ideals. The Internet needs to be exploited as a resource to aid education and promote life long learning. It is such a positive thing in my mind. Forget negatives like the spread of porn, why not focus on what's amazing about the web?
Ritread (not verified) — Sun, 06/07/2009 - 11:49am
In Singapore, dodgy sites are screened through by the internet provider, thereby blocking users from accessing them. There is even a warning message that these sites are blocked in Singapore. If it can be done that way for Indonesia then young people can surf the net more safely without branding communication tools such as cellphones and laptops and the internet itself as contrabands.
Wim Bruneel (not verified) — Fri, 06/05/2009 - 2:40am
By prohibiting cellphones, facebook and other hi-tech stuff you are not going to prevent children and teenagers to get in touch with pornography. I personally don't know anybody who gets in contact with pornography by using his cellphone or facebook. The issue here is to learn teenagers about sexuality in a normal way, instead of making it a taboo. As I experienced, the only way teenagers in Indonesia can learn something about sexuality is by watching pornography. That's not always a good source if you ask my opinion. I think that problem should be solved, instead of prohibiting things.