The Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit presented in Carlyle at the Elementary School on Wednesday, Dec. 6, to conduct an informational session for parents and guardians regarding risks online.
The Unit includes a Sr. Crown Prosecutor dedicated to their efforts – Loreley Berra, and includes funding through the RCMP, Prince Albert Police Services, Regina Police Services, and Saskatoon Police Services.
Conducting the presentation was Cpl. Cory Patterson with the RCMP and Det. Cst. Peter Froh with Regina Police Services.
“In this day and age we are so reliant on technology and if your youth has unfettered access to the internet it does come with some bad,” Cpl. Patterson explained.
The Sask ICE Unit was created in 2009, which dedicates a total of eight investigators to the entire province of 1.56 million people. It was created to investigate child pornography, child exploitation, and luring over the internet, and practicing both Proactive and Reactive investigations.
“It’s so easy today to take a picture and share it,” Patterson stated, then defining the definition of child pornography under the Canadian Criminal Code Sec 163.1 (1): “a photographic, film, video, or other visual representation, whether or not it was made by electronic or mechanical means, (i) shows a person who is or is depicted as being under the age of 18 years and is engaged in or depicted as engaged in explicit sexual activity, or (ii) the dominant characteristic of which is the depiction, for sexual purpose, of a sexual organ or the anal region of a person under the age of 18 years;”
The Canadian Criminal Code goes on to include any written material or audio material of this kind as well.
Thus, if a youth takes a photo and shares it this is seen as three offences: making, distributing, and possessing child pornography.
“Can we charge kids for this? Yes. Do we want to? No. But, we need kids to understand that this is black and white under the Criminal Code,” Patterson stated.
“They also have to understand that once something is sent out, it’s never really gone. Whether posted to the internet or sent through SnapChat – there’s a nifty feature on phones to take a picture of your screen. So, whatever your sending can’t be taken back. Once you send a picture you lose control of it. You can do your best to get it back, but there’s always a copy somewhere.”
Children are willingly participating in online conversations as a way to explore their sexuality, romantic relationships, and as attention seeking behaviour.
“The problem is that on the internet people can be anybody and once they have an image they will say ‘Now I’ve got you,’ and request to be sent more photos or videos, or else they’ll post what you sent them,” Patterson stated. “Research is also showing that boys aged 14-18 are starting to show predatory behaviour in their interactions on the internet like that and if they’re never stopped and told that’s wrong, they will continue to do it.”
“Kids are naturally trusting and predators are master manipulators – it can literally be anyone on the other end. You can’t trust anybody online.”
Patterson and Froh then showed a video of a photo being shared on the internet in 90 seconds, the same amount of time it takes for a Polaroid photo (an “instant” photo) to develop. During the time it took for the Polaroid to develop, the photo online had reached 21 different countries.
What can parents do?
Take note of your child’s behaviour, interests, and friends.
“Also lead by example,” Patterson said. “I have a rule that they can look at my phone anytime and I can look at theirs. They are also not allowed to have their phones in the bathroom or bedroom and must be on the charging station at 9 p.m. Also, everyday at supper we ask the kids to tell us one good thing they’ve done today. Never be satisfied with ‘nothing’ or ‘everything’s fine.’”
“Have a conversation with them. Explain the risks and tell them what’s going on out there; be supportive and understanding.”
Patterson and Froh also added that DNA and fingerprints are unique to a person. Online, every single electronic file created has a digital fingerprint.
“This allows investigators to track a file with a ‘hash value,’” Froh explained. “While file sharing that hash value guarantees that file is the file they are downloading – whether it’s music, movies, or child pornography. More people are being charged and convicted for child pornography than drugs.”
“They can be anyone. There is no way to stereotype or pick them out of a crowd.”
