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FPB creates tipster Web site

Paul Vecchiatto
By Paul Vecchiatto, ITWeb Cape Town correspondent
Cape Town, 11 Jun 2008

The Film and Publications Board (FPB) will launch a Web site where the public can supply anonymous tips on any unsolicited child pornography or sexual abuse content discovered accidentally, says deputy Home Affairs minister Malusi Gigaba.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, during the DHA budget vote, Gigaba said this is one in a string of initiatives that would help the FPB strengthen the fight against children being used for and exposed to pornography, especially over the Internet and via their mobile phones.

The FPB is also considering joining the International Association of Internet Hotlines, an organisation based on the European Community's Safer Internet Action Plan.

Gigaba says SA would be the first African country to join and it would allow for the increased surveillance and reporting of child pornography sites.

On the content that could be reported to the FPB's Web site, Gigaba said: "This may also include child grooming, hosted in chat rooms and other online social networks. Our Internet content analysts will assess the contents of any reported Web site and will forward a detailed report to the law enforcement agencies of SA for further action."

Gigaba also outlined plans to strengthen the FPB through the capacity of its people, the implementation of the Film and Publications Amendment Act once it has been finalised, the implementation of a governance framework for the board, development of a backup and data recovery infrastructure for the organisation, and development of the infrastructure to support the knowledge information management strategy.

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