Chatdanger 24 October 2000

Childnet International, the Children's Internet charity, announced today the launch of www.chatdanger.com, a new web site to respond to the growing dangers for children using Internet Chat rooms. The site is launched following the sentencing today of Patrick Green (33), the first time in the UK a perpetrator has been found guilty of sexual offences arising from contact with a young teenager whom he met in an Internet Chat room.

In June 2000 John and Julie Smith (not their real names) contacted Childnet to ask for help and advice in dealing with a personal family tragedy. Appalled that their 13 year old child had been contacted and sexually abused by an adult who met her through a teenage Internet Chat room, they asked Childnet for help in alerting other parents to the dangers of Chatand ensure that those companies who run Chatservices provide clearer safety advice for children.

After the perpetrator had been sentenced today, Childnet launched www.chatdanger.com with the support of the family, in the words of the parents "to ensure that some good comes from this tragic episode by raising awareness of the potential dangers of the Internet, particularly Chat rooms."

The web site includes an account of what happened to the family and special advice for both teenage Chatusers and parents. The site also includes a simple animated banner based on the mnemonic CHAT.

C - CAREFUL - ppl online may not b who they say they r
H - HANG ON TO YOR PERSONAL INFORMATION - Never give out yor e-mail or home address, phone number, or where u go 2 school
A - ARRANGING TO MEET IS DANGEROUS - Never meet some 1 offline unless u are sure who they r, and then only if u r with a parent and meet in a public place.
T - TELL YOUR FRIENDS or an adult if u come across something that makes you feel uncomfortable.

Childnet has also written to some of the major companies offering Internet Chatin the UK to suggest they provide more safety advice and will now be urging them to link to the site.

Childnet Director, Nigel Williams said, "We admire the bravery of the Smith family in telling their story. We hope that www.chatdanger.com helps young people and parents better understand what they can do to stay safe " Mr Williams also supported the parents in calling for other practical initiatives to deal with Chat. Childnet's recommendations include a specialist national computer crime unit with protecting children at the top of its priorities; a review of legislation dealing with online crimes against children; better training for the police; schools to ensure there is no access to unmoderated Chat; the provision of Chatfree Internet access; better moderation of Chat rooms and much more effort to help parents become net literate and understand these issues. These recommendations are set out in full on the chatdanger web site.

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BACKGROUND ON CHILDNET

Childnet International is a charity registered in the UK (No 1080173) which works to "help make the Internet a great place for Children". Established in 1995 the organisation works around the world in four key areas of Access, Awareness, Protection and Policy. Full details of Childnet's activities, principles for action and staff can be seen at www.childnet-int.org Childnet is a strong advocate of the benefits of the Internet for children - illustrated by the winners of its annual awards programme, sponsored by Cable and Wireless plc, including a dyslexic boy from India, a teenager with a music site from the UK, and a street children's web site from Central America.