Putting Child Safety First On The Internet

Press Release

In a New Zealand first, Kapiti Coast Internet design company, Duckfeet Design has created a web site which ordinary users of the internet can use to fight child pornography.

Duckfeet Design has been working with the Department of Internal Affairs and Paradise Internet Service Provider to create a site where people can find out how to report a pornographic web site, newsgroup or chatroom anonymously.

www.childsafety1st.org.nz is the result of that collaboration.

Principal of Duckfeet Design, Les Eldridge, says his company has extensive contacts with both enforcement agencies and ISPs around the world. When a web site is reported, childsafety1st will bring it to the attention of the appropriate authority. They will also contact the appropriate ISP, direct, and get the web site pulled from the Internet.

Mr Eldridge says the company has already been responsible for the removal of several web sites and newsgroups.

Mr Eldridge says information collected from reports will be added to what he describes as a “sadly growing” database of sites from around the world. Authorities will use that information to direct their efforts in the place where they can be most effective.

To make reporting even simpler, as soon as someone logs on to the web site, they will be prompted to add a button to their browser. This will enable people to connect directly to the web site reporting page, at the touch of a button, without losing the site address where the child pornography is displayed.

www.childsafety1st.org.nz also has information on how to prevent children from coming across inappropriate sites with simple, easy-to-apply tips on surfing safety.

Les Eldridge says the internet is a wonderful research medium but because it is a truly open medium, it is also a place where paedophiles are able, through pictures, films and sound bites, to carry on business which he describes as “truly disgusting”. Mr Eldridge says an added danger is that a paedophile will use the Internet to coerce a child into joining in.

He says the danger in New Zealand is very real and because paedophiles hide behind false names and logins, child pornography is very difficult to fight.

But Mr Eldridge says the creation of the web site is a concrete step toward enlisting the help of all internet users. He says “only when we all work together can we effectively fight this terrible crime”.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Webmasters can make this site their official reporting site by emailing childsafety1st on links@childsafety1st.org.nz and thus provide this service to their customers for free.

Anyone wishing to sponsor childsafety1st in its fight against child pornography can email the company at sponsorship@childsafety1st.org.nz

For any further information please email les@duckfeet.co.nz or telephone (04) 904-1115.

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