bobandcarole wrote:
> Pedophile Warning Campaign Launches In U.K
>
>
> Newsbytes News Network, Dec 3, 2005 by Steve Gold
>
> The British government has launched a 1.5 million British pound ($2.15
> million) ad campaign to tell parents about the dangers of Internet
> pedophiles.
>
> The campaign will center on national newspaper and magazine advertising
> to encourage parents to "Wise up to the Net."
>
> Announcing the campaign this morning, British Home Office Minister
> Beverley Hughes said that the campaign aims to improve child safety in
> Internet chat rooms. "Pedophiles are dangerous - not Internet chat
> rooms," she said.
>
> U.K. Online, the government's Internet and e-government agency, is
> fielding telephone calls from the campaign, which encourages parents to
> call a toll-free number to receive a advisory booklet. The booklet
> encourages parents to educate their kids to use Internet chat rooms
> without putting themselves at risk from pedophiles who might "groom"
> them for abuse.
>
> The booklet and further details are also available on the campaign's
> Web site at http://www.wiseuptothenet.co.uk .
>
> Continue article
> Advertisement
>
> In a press statement, Hughes said that Internet chat rooms have given
> young people a virtual playground, an international school and a place
> to meet and make friends.
>
> "Sadly, the Internet, like so many other technological advances, is not
> immune from criminal abuse, and can bring its own dangers, not least to
> our children," she said.
>
> Plans call for the campaign to be extended in the New Year to include
> advertising on radio, in movie theaters and in "youth" magazines.
>
> The focus of the extended campaign is to encourage kids to "Know the
> Net" and avoid putting themselves at risk by giving out personal
> details or phone numbers online.
>
> Matt Peacock, a spokesperson for AOL U.K., told Newsbytes that the
> Internet service provider welcomed the campaign.
>
> "We applaud the government for what they're doing. The booklet is
> excellent - it's very clear and has good advise for parents and their
> kids about using the Internet," he said.
>
> Peacock added that AOL is planning to produce its own advisory leaflet
> on Internet security issues, but this will be separate from the
> government's work.
>
> "You can't have too much information for parents about this potential
> problem. It's important that parents and their kids are educated," he
> said.
>
> While AOL is positive about the booklet, Peacock added that the ISP has
> a slight reservation about the nature of the ads themselves, which he
> said warns parents about the risk, but doesn't say much about what they
> can do.
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