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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