Warning: This article contains details some might find distressing If you're affected by any of the issues in this article you can find details of organisations who can help below and the public health wellbeing
I had planned to deliver TedX talk on Anti Cyber Bullying campaign, the pandemic interrupt this and since the Online Safety Bill has passed, Addressing these issues.
Here is a short write-up on how it’s protecting children from online predators.
To protect victims of crime from online sadists
Someone who gets pleasure from hurting or humiliating others is a sadist. Sadists feel other people's pain more than is normal. And they enjoy it. At least, they do until it is over, when they may feel bad. The popular imagination associates sadism with torturers and murderers.
When someone experiences abuse / violence as a child, the cycle can be repeated as adults, breaking the cycle of abuse.
Side project at work pro bono
Online safety for children and young people
Internationally recognised authority of Digital Art and Design, who's worked on Projects for SEGA and Disney, found illegal indecent images of children being traded online, turned away from reporting by the local Police Station, took it to Scotland yard, 6 months later there where 100 coordinated arrests globally, campaigned for a Safer internet for young people and children with the FX artist of Gladiator and Saving Private Ryan.
the director happily kept in the dark said it was the most rewarding thing she was ever involved in.
Involved in self producing the WORDS WOUND project in 2014 for THE CYBERSMILE FOUNDATION link. after a militant vegan began a hate campaign against Bill Turpin a film/TV industry prosthetics FX artist wrongly believing he used dead animals in creating his work, his credits include Saving Private Ryan and Gladiator. (carried out for free)
Prosthetics FX
Anti Cyberbullying raising awareness of the physiological harm inflicted by online hate and abuse on self image and self worth on young and impressionable minds by those hiding behind anonymity of the internet. meet a MET CID officer who attends after teenage suicides, Almost 10 years on and the online safety Bill, law in the UK is to give Authorities access to Social media and messaging accounts after the death of teens.
Online safety bill keeping illegal content away from users. now Trolls who encourage serious self-harm face jail.
Trusted with a side project on high end equipment all other projects set aside, senior management kept in the dark still retouching was complete so as not to impact the creative process, the marketing industry had unease and distancing themselves, we promoted the campaign through large network of creative industry and numerous tech websites, one website alone had 1.5 million unique monthly visitors. One Direction where the week’s superstar DJs on the #PositivePlaylist! Released on the Cybersmile Spotify channel, unknown to us at the time Bloomfields Learning centre director was One Directions manager (see about)
Technology website 3Ders 1.5m unique monthly readers
Cyberbullying: It might not be something those of us who have left school years ago think of, but it is a part of daily life for many children with access to the web. Research by the British Cybersmile Foundation, that aims to combat this digital form of playground bullying, has revealed that 92% of British teachers have come across cyberbullying during their professional career, while 78% of teachers has personally experienced cyberbullying, directed either at themselves, their students or other their colleagues. It looks like the kids of the Facebook generation do more than play Farmville.
Fortunately, there are a number of initiatives throughout the world that seek to raise awareness about this digital phenomenon, and prevent it from happening again. One of these is the British Cybersmile Foundation, who hosts an annual 'Stop Cyberbullying Day', which was held in June of this year. It's a day where everybody can get involved and make a difference both on and off-line. The Cybersmile Foundation are asking everybody who cares about cyberbullying and online hate campaigns to join their growing movement for action against online bullying and to help them to create a much safer more enjoyable environment for our children's future. 3Ders Dec 5, 2014 | By Alec 1.5m unique readers a month.
1989: British scientist Tim Berners-Lee (pictured right) wrote the first proposal for the World Wide Web. He's pictured here with collaborator Robert Cailliau (left) and student Nicola Pellow, who wrote the first cross-platform web browser. while working at CERN. The Web was originally conceived and developed to meet the demand for automated information-sharing between scientists in universities and institutes around the world.
see digital engineering breaking web hosting World record sharing the live land speed record time trials.
Admirable intentions but sadly there are those that would spread hate, groom children and encourage self harm.
Cyber bullying and illegal images of victims have been traded online for the past 30+ years, technology and the law is catching up with illegal content and the psychological harm caused to its victims, sedation for the trauma experienced where once the only cause of action. the Online Safety Bill became Law on 26th Oct 2023 in the United Kingdom. See online Safety
reform of the Mental health act 1983, 40 years on 26th Oct 2023
A digital device in the hands of a child can easily lead them the illegal explicit images to address this…
Online child safety Social media
The internet is similar to the high street where some stores are not for children to enter.
Social media apps have always had age restrictions reluctance for using official ID verification in opening social media accounts. The digital identity wallet in the UK to verifies the identity of account owners when using online services.
Online child safety Social media
Its extremely important to setup parental controls for children’s mobile devices, google parent account to control child account restricting the installation of apps and content viewed by children including Kids YouTube age restrictions for the suitable. and restrict adult content on internet browsers.
Online child safety Social media
The act aims to Stop children and young people receiving unsolicited sexual images and messages on WhatsApp and other messaging and social media
Online child safety Social media
A number of actions returned lost small children, toddlers separated from the mother in the street,
one a Vietnamese child luckily I was with friend who spoke Vietnamese and she lead us to her home within a few minarets. Saw the mother with police as we left as distraught with fear as a mother who had a child abducted.
As a child I had seen that sight before a mother who’s child had been addicted when the child a small girl walked out of her sight.
In the mid 1980’s short distance from one of the IWF founders home, and Before its establishment.
IWF: eliminating child abuse online
The findings of the 7 Year £186m Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual abuse created in the Wake of the high profile Jimmy Savile scandal link, where the Children's TV personality used his fame and influence to have access to children in a Mental health Hospital and sexually abused them at night, and the failings of the press including the BBC in regard to allegations of Abuse in England and Wales - both Past, and today, Chairwoman Prof Alexis Jay described an "epidemic that leaves thousands of victims in its poisonous wake",
know the process to report illegal content and the material should be blocked by service providers.
The enquiry revealed Shocking details about how a pro-paedophile group lobbied the government to normalise sex between adults and children. the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE), operated between 1974 and 1984. Similar to as a Japanese school teacher described the girls going with business men for financial gain Japan introduced a age convent in..
It came to light that nearly every major British public personality of the 70’s and 80’s was involved abuses.
cyber-flashing
35 years after the inception of the World Wide Web, the First person to be convicted in England and Wales jailed for 54 weeks for cyber-flashing pictures of his gentiles to a 15 year old girl and Woman. On 19th March 2024
IWF: eliminating child abuse online
Described as controversial The UK's Online Safety Bill, Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the bill received Royal assent on on 26th Oct 2023. The bill is now an Act of Parliament (law) in connection with the regulation by OFCOM the UK's communications regulator putting duties on certain internet services, the new rules are focused on protecting children from online harm by placing more responsibility on tech companies to prevent and remove illegal and harmful content.
Platforms will also need to show they are committed to removing illegal content including:
- child sexual abuse
- controlling or coercive behaviour
- extreme sexual violence
- illegal immigration and people smuggling
- promoting or facilitating suicide
- promoting self-harm
- animal cruelty
- selling illegal drugs or weapons
- terrorism
Other new offences have been created,
Trolls who encourage serious self-harm to face jail
including cyber-flashing - sending unsolicited sexual imagery online -
the sharing of "deepfake" pornography, BBC News 26 October 2023 link
Feb 2024 the first conviction of cyber-flashing a Essex man flashing on WhatsApp a minor.
US politicians have called for new laws to criminalise the creation of deepfake images, after explicit faked photos of Taylor Swift were viewed millions of times online.
UK Data centres ‘Critical National Infrastructure’
Update 12 Sept 2024, the Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, has announced the government has now classed UK data centres – the buildings which store much of the data generated in the UK – as Critical National Infrastructure’ . It is the first Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) designation in almost a decade, since the Space and Defence sectors gained the same status in 2015.
Historical High profile example
in the 1970-80’s the press attempted to report celebrity abusing there position but was stopped by editorial. example spitting image of Prince Andrew. The now decreases Royal Linked to the Jeffrey Epstein sex sandals and made to step down as a member of British Royal family.
Prince Andrew named in accusation of 'underage orgy' on Epstein Island in disgrace, settled undisclosed out of court settlement in underage sex case with Epstein victim.
Rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse
Russel Brand assaulted one of his alleged victims when he was in his early 30s and she was 16 and still at school. She alleges he referred to her as "the child" during an emotionally abusive and controlling relationship. Looking back, she says, he "engaged in the behaviours of a groomer" bbc news oct 2023
Who is Stormy Daniels, the adult-film star in Trump N.Y. hush money case? secret $130,000 payment to secure her silence days before the 2016 presidential election.Washington post Link
A lawyer for Donald Trump asked a federal appeals court to overturn a $5 million jury verdict finding him liable for sexually assaulting and defaming the writer E. Jean Carroll. Reuters 6th sept 2024
A Judge, explained "you have to bare with us as it takes time for the law catch up"
Member of policing advisory panel “who’s going to represent them and where we going to put them all”
the inquiry has called on the government to urgently introduce a system of "Mandatory reporting" a new law placing a duty to report child abuse on anyone who witnessed or was told about it by children or perpetrators. BBC news link 20/10/22 It is reported there has been a 1000% increase in online child porn during the Covid Lock down.
Savile, who hosted the BBC’s “Jim’ll Fix it,” palled around with the royal family, reportedly spent holidays with the Thatchers and was knighted not only by Queen Elizabeth but by Pope John Paul II. “allegedly got away with abusing 500 children and sex with dead bodies” Washington post June 2014
The police investigation resulted in the 2013 Giving Victims a Voice report, which found that Savile had sexually abused 450 people, 328 of whom were minors. Savile used his power and unrestricted access into schools, hospitals and mental health institutions to target, corner and silence his victims. Evening Standard Oct 2023
'There were senior managers within the BBC, particularly the radio setup, who, who had the information. Savile's former BBC Producer, Ted Beston. Dame Janet Smith's report found he was a 'provider' of young women for Savile, whom he 'admired', and that he knew the presenter had casual sex with teenage girls. Mail Oct 2023
INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION Registered Charity No. 1112398
My family lived behind one of the founders of the IWF British Telecom CEO Lord Ian Valance FRSA and was on one of the first DSL exchanges in Britain.
Girls of 14 most common group to report rape, home secretary reveals Violent porn is warping young boys’ attitude to sex, warns Yvette Cooper as she calls for tougher action.
Violent pornography is “fundamentally changing” the views of young boys about sex, the home secretary has said as new figures reveal police are receiving more reports of rape from 14-year-old girls than any other age group. Sept 20 2024, The Times
More than 8,800 rape incidents were reported to Londons Metropolitan Police in 2023 - an average of 24 a day. the Met and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) - 11,000 reports of other sexual crimes were reported to the force last year, with almost a quarter of all reported crimes from people aged under 18. BBC 20 sept 2024
Wavering anonymity in a hope this write up helps in safeguarding children and the access to Children and the most vulnerable in Society, and members of the public report any other cases of bad practice and wrong doing. History of IWF link I'm particularly interests as a child I attended a centre for children with learning disabilities who are at higher risk of being the target of predators. see Background Bloomfield centre.
Over 20 years ago First assisted a young lady (teen) in a harrowing situation of physical sexual violence, thankfully the culprit was sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence,
soon afterwards discovered indecent images of children being traded online, was turned away by the local police station when attempting to report, not excepting no for an answer or torrents took the discovery in person to New Scotland Yard who had me anonymously report the find to the Internet Watch Foundation IWF link one of the only organizations legally permitted to view such material, then returned to the local police station not before printing out the correct procedure for their official records. 6 months later there where 100 coordinated arrests Worldwide which coincided with the database numbers.
IWF their work is described as the most difficult job in the World.
The IWF is a key part of the UK's fight against online child sexual abuse material (CSAM), enabling people and organisations to report suspected online child abuse content.
and later helped in the conviction of a man who left a young Chinese lady in a vegetative state, who had been stabbed in her private parts and face, a short distance from my front door.
Complete stranger told me I looked like an episode of The Wire tv show. Helping children who got involved in drugs and mental health in inner city’s
While the owner of pat pong market was running for Moyer on an anti corruption ticket.
Invited to Thailand by family of Senior Thai officer, turned down an offer to enter the seedy Patpong market. instead stood among the statues of the Shaolin Styles at Viharnra Sien (Anek Kusala Sala) Chinese Temple.
And looked upon the Khao Chi Chan (Buddha Mountain), at the largest collection of Chinese artifacts outside of China, devout Buddhists touching in reverence the cast metal statues of the Buddha have caused the fine detailed decorative patterns to fade over the centuries making them only visible to the trained eye.
When MSN messenger .Net ASP was in beta in 1999 I received a private call from .Net ASP developer on messenger, with a towel round me having just bathed before bed to discover without my knowledge I was on the large video screen at Las Vagus technology conference. Social media and personal privacy, Not issues as they are today. MSN messenger discontinued in 2013.
The same person posted a picture of me in a hotel room on Hot or Not without my express consent. Hot or Not was a rating site that allowed users to rate the attractiveness of photos submitted voluntarily by others.
New restrictions on digital service providers are part of the Online Safety Bill, under the Bill, IT managers and Web Masters are now held legally liable if they do not take all necessary measures to stop Online child abuse, and terms of condition have changed for digital services providers including Google LLC, what it takes to be a IT manager/ webmaster today.
The IWF uses AI to identify the content of illegal images which it has learned to identify from its 20+ years database, and create meta data and report to authorities in relevant jurisdictions with the powers to remove from servers and websites in a mater of hours across the globe, as apposed to months stopping the repeated victimization of people abused in childhood, making the internet a safer place. (see AI super computing)
Since the Online Safety bill's introduction, there have been convictions including, Ex-rabbi Yuval Keren, 56, after Dropbox said he uploading suspicious images, the National Crime Agency (NCA) They found 1,694 indecent images of children on his devices, of which 189 were the most extreme in category A. BBC report link
Wired magazine Matt burgess
the last two years, Pornhub has worked with the Internet Watch Foundation and the Lucy Lucy Faithfull Foundation to run a chatbot on its websites. Whenever anyone searches one of 34,000 terms linked to child abuse a large warning has appeared and the chatbot which offers people help for their behavior
4.4 million users saw the warning page after searches and 2.8 million saw the chatbot. This ended up with scores of people seeking support.
Pornhub's parent company Aylo has announced it is to comply with new standards of good practice, drawn up by UK charity the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) after pornhub the British website was found to have images that breached child protection rules. In BBC interview called OnlyFans Uncovered.
Fraudsters
The UK is a high international target for sophisticated Fraudsters who often target the vulnerable and those less technologically sophisticated, phishing fake identity, promises of get rich quick schemes, including from within the church, email spam, telephone scams, etc
Fraudsters
One of those Sextortion and a number of teens have been taking there own lives over, when coercing kids and teens into sending explicit images online. Info on Sextortion Link affecting wellbeing. In a first for the US Two brothers from Nigeria who targeted a 17-year-old in a sextortion scam have been sentenced to 17 years and six months in jail in the US. 5th sept 2024 bbc news Link
UN General Assembly
Trinidad and Tobago appointed President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
Trinidad recently had a social media trend sharing sexual, inappropriate and cyber-bullying content of minors over social media, including posted sexually explicit content and non-consensual images of minors and adults while sharing personal information such as school names and phone numbers on their subjects. which is illegal within the country link
Wed 9th Oct 2019, 69 people were rescued from a life of chains, cages and torture at a Christian ministry in the twin island nation of Trinidad & Tobago in a case local police describe as “slavery” in the largest human trafficking ring in the country.
For example Digital service providers would have been legally required to filter and block the illegal content, when social media accounts have no age or ID verification hide behind the anonymity of fake accounts. web 3.0 using NFT's content creators have ID verification.
I have witnessed church sermon in the Caribbean celebrating a child sex abuser who killed his victim becoming a Pastor, proving there is a long way to go in child protection and supporting victims.
the Politics of Preteen sex education
I’m a veteran of hate towards me from members of LGBT+ community if you mention reduce grooming activists accuse of homophobia, in there attempts to normalise alternative sexual life styles to children, while children with autism and learning disabilities especially girls are the target of grooming and suffer higher rates of abuse.
New gov guidelines are that children below the age of 9 are not to be have lessons on gender identity in England.
the Politics of Preteen sex education
There is a name for LGBT hate towards straight people Heteronegativism
Having studied and worked in a predominantly LGBT industry When I honestly mention the experiences I have had at the receiving of LGBT exposing the hate, LGBT campaigners try and damage career, who where the men watching boys in the changing rooms at the swimming pools or the lesbian HR manager who laughed at Me as she denied my parental leave when my daughter was born as she found a loop, it’s an alternative sexual lifestyle and they are not all trust worthy with children.
Where I played at school the only media reference I have ever seen was a Gay man luring people to flat and the killing and dissolving them in a bath of Acid, Breaking Bad Style. don’t just go meeting anyone you meet online.
He later told police: “I met him on Grindr and I killed him. Satan told me to.” Link
Digital Security: Middle East Aviation and UK financial Sector
Designed and developed the floppy disk drive lock for Stealth International in 1991, physically securing computer ports for Middle East Commercial Aviation industry and the UK financial Sector as staff at the time where found attempting to install games from home to play in their breaks. (started working in Stealth Mode)
Others involved went on to become civil servant in office of Windrush descendent Tottenham labour MP David Lammy now Foreign Secretary, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of United Kingdom, and on to work in police complaints. who invited me to whats turned out to be BBQ by immigration officers, I was soon ejected after highly objecting to there islamophobic talk.
In 1993 networked Emirates Airlines London Head Quarters @ 125 Pall Mall, St. James's, London with one of the UK's fastest Ethernet networks, Enjoyed Lunch at the chief of polices home in Dubai. Invited into the cockpit of international flights alert system of objects on the runway, and called from Middle East commercial aviation as 9/11 started to unfolded.
THE CYBERSMILE FOUNDATION Registered Charity No 1147576 (anti online Hate)
INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION Registered Charity No. 1112398 (combat online child abuse content)
Rethink Mental illness Registered Charity No. 271028 (National Mental Health)
THE LOOP DRUG CHECKING SERVICE registered Charity number: 1200533