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Images Of Child Sex Abuse Spur Arrests
by Winter Casey
Nine Canadians have been arrested as part of an ongoing international investigation of child pornography on the Internet, the National Child Exploitation Coordination Center said Tuesday.
The news was disclosed by representatives of the center, the European Law Enforcement Organization and Canadian law enforcement agencies during an update of "Operation Koala." The Internet-based operation involves 30 countries, and 18 Canadian law enforcement agencies have been involved in the investigation.
Sergio Marzola, an Italian national, was found to be operating a Web site that included lengthy videos he produced and sold of children being sexually abused, according to a Canadian government spokeswoman. The videos were believed to have been produced in Ukraine. The official said Canada has linked 98 unique e-mail addresses from Canada to the site.
"Last February, Canadian authorities became involved after some 600 e-mail messages originating in this country were identified among some 50,000 messages between Marzola and potential customers," The Canadian Press reported. "Police have no evidence of Canadian child victims to date, although one suspect still at large is alleged to have communicated a desire to get his daughters involved."
Earla-Kim McColl, the superintendent of the child-exploitation center, said in a statement: "Internet-facilitated sexual abuse of children is occurring around the world at alarming rates. Only through a coordinated international response by law enforcement, industry partners such as Internet service providers and the tourism industry, the public, the media, and governmental and non-governmental agencies, can this crime be successfully addressed."
McColl added that "as investigators, and indeed as a society, we find it appalling that a child's agony and humiliation provides sexual gratification to offenders."
Meanwhile, members of European Parliament planned to discuss Tuesday how to protect children from pedophiles online. The Internet "has created a new area of anonymity for those preying on children, with child pornography being rampant," Parliament said.
Possible ways to stop the increasing number of sites that include the objectionable material include blocking credit-card payments for pedophile material. Such an effort, however, would require the cooperation of credit card companies to prevent certain sites from receiving money for their materials.
Another possibility would be to stop access to such sites. "This would mean Internet service providers and search engines using technology available to hamper access to dangerous sites," according to Parliament.
The European Union also could close sites if they are based in the region. Other ideas being considered include the establishment of a Web site dedicated to the rights of children and a database of sites that sell child porn.
Gaming Group Opposes German Treaty
The European Gaming and Betting Association claims that a German treaty, which recently went into force, banning most online gaming and betting is against European law. Secretary General Sigrid Ligne said the association, which represents European gaming and betting operators, has filed a formal complaint with the European Commission.
"We urge the commission now to fast track our complaint and launch infringement proceedings against Germany," Ligne said in a statement.
"The German Interstate Treaty has come into force despite formal objections raised by the European Commission under its notification procedure that the treaty transgressed EU law," according to the association. "Its adoption shall not only restrict the activities of EU operators but directly challenges the commission's clear position under the notification procedure itself."
"Prohibition is not and has never been a solution, be it in our sector or other sectors," association Chairman Norbert Teufelberger said in a statement. "Focusing on online gaming does not make sense when most recent peer-reviewed studies show that although online and offline gaming has a different target audience, players' behavior is similar whether online or offline. Furthermore, in a regulated environment online gaming allows for higher transparency and traceability."
The International Herald Tribune reported Tuesday that the European Commission plans to decide within weeks whether to step up legal action against Germany over its move to ban online gambling.
"Though action by the commission could take years to work its way through the European court system, there are signs that the commission's stance is having an effect on enforcement of the new German law," the paper stated.
Commission officials in Washington did not have any immediate comment on the issue.
U.K. IP Minister Considers Future Of Copyright Laws
In other European news, Britain's minister for intellectual property has launched a consultation to review how the region's copyright laws apply to the digital age.
"In an increasingly digital world, we need to be sure that our copyright system keeps up with the times and works effectively," the minister, Lord Triesman, said in a statement.
"This consultation ... explores where the boundaries lie between strong protection for right holders and appropriate levels of access for users," he said. "A system valued by right holders and respected by users is critical to the success of U.K. creativity."
The U.K. Intellectual Property Office is considering proposals that include introducing "a format-shifting exception to allow consumers to copy legitimately purchased content to another format, for example CD to MP3, in a manner that does not damage the interests of copyright owners."
"Other proposals include changes to enable schools and universities to make the most of digital technologies," facilitate distance learning, and "allow libraries and archives to use technology to preserve valuable material before it deteriorates or the format it is stored on becomes obsolete," the office said.
This consultation is one part of a package of measures recommended by Andrew Gowers, a former editor of The Financial Times, who headed an independent review into laws protecting intellectual property.
"The UK reforms are an attempt to strike a balance between the rights of the artistic community and other copyright owners, and the end-using consumer in light of the reality of today's digital world," said Paul Mitchell, a copyright attorney with the international law firm Taylor Wessing.
"Already we are seeing a proposed liberalization of copyright law for practices such as format-shifting, paired with calls for increased civil and criminal penalties for violating another's IP rights," he added in a statement.
Uganda To Release Tech Policy
Uganda's government plans to release a document next month that will guide the development and expansion of the information and communications technology sector, according to ICT State Minister Alintuma Nsambu.
Nsambu said the policy paper has been approved by the cabinet and is expected to be approved by Parliament next month, Kampala's East African Business Week reports. Nsambu said greater technology training in schools is needed by the government, which has provided free computers to some schools.
In other African news, the Nigeria National Assembly is expected to amend the law establishing the National Communications Commission "to enforce sanctions that would compel improved quality of service in the [mobile telephone] networks," the Vanguard of Lagos reports.
And in Russia, RIA Novosti reports that Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov plans to hold an online conference Jan. 30.
"At the two-hour conference, members of Chechen diasporas both in Russia and abroad will be able to join the dialogue with Kadyrov, ask him questions, make requests and receive objective information on the situation in Chechnya directly from the republic's leadership," his press service said. Kadyrov was appointed president of Chechnya last February.
On Friday, UPI reported that Kadyrov said television stations in Chechnya could be closed if they fail to offer basic Islamic-language courses. The courses would "help to keep young people away from the destructive influence of various cults," Kadyrov said.
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