The new Web site backs up a two year old initiative that combines the resources of law enforcement agencies and technology partners from the Australia, UK, Canada and the US. The idea came from the UK's National Crime Squad, which wanted to create an international "one stop shop" for all information about online child protection.
Jim Gamble, deputy director general of the UK's National Crime Squad, and chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, said the international partnership is unique and necessary to help fight online child abusers.
"Child abuse is one of the worst crimes to affect today's society and we in the UK must break away from thinking that we can tackle this issue within our own borders. Internet-users access a worldwide service and we must tackle abuse from a worldwide perspective. Police across the world must work as one on this," said Gamble.
The Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA), which is one of seven Australian organisations working with the VGT and has been running a hotline for people to report online child abuse, welcomed the new portal.
Jane Marquard, board member of the ABA, said that the VGT will complement the work of domestic law enforcement agencies and make the Internet a safer place for young people.
"Complaints to the ABA's online hotline have doubled since Operation Auxin in September 2004, which was the Australian police operation against Internet child pornography that resulted in hundreds of people being arrested for child sex offences. Operation Auxin has made it clear that agencies must co-operate at national and international levels to combat the problems associated with illegal Internet content -- particularly child pornography," said Marquard.
Hi just a quick comment
i'm pretty new to the internet & i was quite shocked at the amount of so called art sites available on line. There seems to be a very thin line between art & porn. The line almost doesn't exist. is there some sort of legeslation or laws that can be p****ed to tighten the loop wholes in our laws. or is there some way to censor these type of sites so they are not accessable in this country ? i am also curious as to how the line between art and porn is defined.