CEO report
European Union Contract 2004/06 - Safer Internet Action Plan (SIAP)
We submitted a bid for €469,037 (about £320,00 over two years). The bid has since passed an evaluation test but we haven’t been told whether it will be paid in full. There is one main draw back to this contract; we will have to wait until June 2005 before the first instalment is paid, so a whole year with no EU funding to speak of.
Funding Situation.
A provisional projected budget for 2004/5 is a specific agenda item.
Membership.
Two new subscribing members have joined since our last meeting taking our total to thirty eight (38) members. I am actively negotiating with twelve (12) other potential members.
Significant Trends.
A one pager is attached to your bundle for your perusal.
Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Two sections directly relating to our work was passed by Parliament in 2003.
S.45
Raises the age of child from 16 to 18 for the purposes of indecent images under the Protection of Children Act 1978. This is likely to lead to more indecent material being reported and probably judged to be potentially illegal.
S.46.
Reverses the burden of proof for ‘making’ (downloading) an indecent image in that the onus is now on a defendant to prove that is was necessary for him/her to make (download) a child abuse image
A briefing note on the actual words of the section can be found amongst your attachments.
S. 46 Memorandum of Understanding.
Following discussions between the Home Office, Police and CPS they have now issued a draft MOU setting out the conditions under which industry professionals will be able to claim the S.46 defence. (This is amongst your attachments)
S15
Grooming.
Details can be found on the Sex Offences Act briefing note. The Police are discussing the operational imperatives about which Police Agency is going to lead on these allegations when the Act comes into being.
Indecent Images on Mobiles.
We are in dialogue with the Police to determine the image assessment and reporting process if and when indecent images appear on mobile handsets.
Paedophile On Line Investigation Team (POLIT).
I’ve had meetings with ACC Jim Gamble head of POLIT and ACC Stuart Hyde, ACPO lead on the protection of children on the Internet, to discuss policies and practices that need resolution between us and our members in the future. Stuart will attend one of our Board meetings to share the challenges they face with online allegations of paedophilia.
General Manager.
We have appointed Tony Fagelman as our new General Manger. You should have seen a press release setting out his background. His first task was to modernise our financial accounting system and secondly to recommend a fully costed appraisal for improving our website. The results of his first task are the funding projections amongst your bundle of papers and subject to your agreement, Tony will become a co-signatory on IWF financial transactions, in addition to myself and Liz Banks.
Communications Co-ordinator.
We appointed Fay Macdonald on 5.1.4 as our communications coordinator. Again her details and experience were presented on a press release earlier.
Media Activity.
The media have been busy on Internet paedophilia matters. We have a constant stream of issues they would like comments on so Fay’s appointment will make all the difference in managing their demands.
Search Engine Dinner.
The IWF hosted a dinner at the House of Lords on 21.01.04, sponsored by Yahoo UK & Ireland. This was attended by many search engine directors, parliamentarians, government officials, law enforcement officers and childrens charity representatives to discuss ways in which they can make searching engine facilities even safer for internet users. Home Office Minister Paul Goggins was in attendance.
Membership Benefits including value added services.
We have developed value added services in addition to the universal notice & takedown service, as part and parcel of membership. This is an opportune moment to reflect on what we offer our members.
- Evidence of Corporate Social Responsibility.
- Seen by the British Govt to be supporting a worthwhile effort to combat child abuse.
- Inclusion in circulations of information on the subject of child abuse images.
- Potential to influence Industry, Govt and Police in developing policy.
- Advice on the EC Directive concerning liability for CSP’s in hosting, caching etc.
- Notice & takedown service for potentially illegal content hosted on company servers.
- Access to recommended ‘regularity’ list of illegal content newsgroups.
- Access to recommended ‘names or adverts list’ of illegal newsgroups.
- Access to list of newsgroups that advocate paedophilia.
- Access to ‘dubious’ newsgroups list.
- Access to IWF database to block access to unsuitable sites.
- Access to strings of words that paedophiles use to search for illegal content.
- Access for all Internet consumers to an Internet ‘Hotline’ to report illegal material.
- Single point of reference for IT managers/administrators.
- No need for any company staff to view potentially illegal images, that is IWF’s role.
- Advice about risks of staff suing under H & S for being exposed to traumatic images.
- IWF interacts with numerous British Law Enforcement Agencies and the FBI.
- IWF publicises partnerships when speaking at events.
- Possibilities of joint PR and media opportunities.
- Constant media interest in the ‘dark side of the internet’ enables negative stories to be turned to positive advantage as CSP’s, Telco’s and mobile operators are being seen to support the crackdown on paedophiles and distributors of child abuse images.
- IWF always name their funders when interviewed by the media so more positive PR.
- Logo on IWF homepage
- Voting rights on Funding Members Council.
- Seat on IWF Board, if elected from Funding Members Council.
Safer Internet Day.
The 6th February 2004 has been decreed a Safer Internet Day. The Cyberspace Research Unit based at Lancashire University are organising an event at the British Library St Pancras.
Safer Internet Show.
This event is scheduled for 16th – 19th July 2003.
The IWF brand features on all their main advertising outlets.
We are exploring the possibility of joining any of our members on their stalls to publicise their partnership with us and to enable us to explain to visitors what our role is.
Peter Robbins
Chief Executive
Page Created: Thu, October 7th, 2004
Page Modified: Mon, August 14th, 2006
