Internet Safety Presented by The Fargo Police Department

Internet Safety Presented by The Fargo Police Department

Who Uses the Internet? More than 30 million children in the United States use the internet. There are over 165 countries connected to the internet. All of these people have access to your child.

Why is the internet so popular? Large amount of information at fingertips. Quick answers. Easy access. Social Networking. Business applications.

Social Networking

Types of Social Networking Sites General (My. Space, Facebook) Cell Phones (mocospace) Blogging (livejournal, xanga) Microblogging (twitter, jaiku) small content Students (classmates. com, graduates. com) Religious (holypal, fusion 101, koolanoo, naseeb) Travel (Trav. Buddy, WAYN) Cultural (Mi. Gente. com, Lunar. Storm, Grono. net)

Social Networking Meet new people. Communicate with several people. (IM’s, e -mail). Post information about yourself. Several different sites. Share common interests.

Safety Several social networking sites have some safety features. n n Myspace Facebook

My. Space Safety Features User must be 14 years old or older. Users ages 14 -15 are automatically assigned a private profile. (Only friends can view their profile). Profiles of users 16+ can be either private or public. Law enforcement cannot access private profiles without subpoena.

My. Space Safety Features Sentinel Safe Program -check subscriber information for registered sex offenders & blocks them from using site/will remove them automatically. Amber Alert Program n When NCMEC is notified of an Amber Alert, Myspace notifies all users within the zip code area via the internet. (Added January 2007).

Facebook

Facebook #1 worldwide social networking site. n n n 700 million users worldwide 3 Billion photos uploaded monthly. 100 million users accessing through mobile devices. Anyone over 13 years old can join. Networks are based around company, region, or school.

Facebook Safety Features Profiles can only be seen by others in the same network or those who have been confirmed as Friends. (Can be a large number of people). Users can limit those who view their profiles by customized settings. n Can also limit so others can only view specific parts of their profile.

Facebook Safety Features If your child is under 13, and you believe s/he has created an account: n n Have child sign into account & Facebook will assist you in deleting it. E-mail Facebook at the following [email protected] com With subject line of COPPA Data Request

Virtual Worlds

Second Life 3 D virtual world where users connect & can use free voice & text chat. Have a virtual “second life”. Make up profile (choose identity, clothes, have job, travel, IM’s, own economy, buy land). Costs money to be a member and to purchase items. (millions of dollars in transactions each month).

Second Life

Second Life PG version for ages 13 -17 years old. Problems with predators. (Child pornography links). Users can buy private regions. Watch various sexual acts, torture, and suicides.

Chatroulette

Chatroulette is an online chat website that pairs strangers from around the world together for webcam-based conversations. Others include Chat. Random, Omegle, Camzap, and i. Meetzu.

fargo. backpage. com

Example of posting

Location Based Social Networking Foursquare is a location-based social networking website for mobile devices. Users “check-in” at various places using a mobile website. Foursquare has over 4 million users.

Location Based Social Networking Facebook’s“Places” is similar to Foursquare in that it gives an individual’s location when the users posts information using a mobile application.

Location Based Social Networking Location-based social networking allows strangers to track your movements every day. If they watch someone long enough they will know exactly when and where to find that person on any given day.

Safety Tips for Social Networking Sites Make your profile private. Only accept friend requests from people you know and trust. Don’t post cell phone number, address, IM screen name, your whereabouts, or anything that makes it easy for a stranger to find you. (photo with school logo on it). Do not share passwords.

Keep in mind Any of the safety features can be defeated. Because the sites are free any information can be entered.

Technology & Stalking 1 in 4 victims report being stalked through the use of some form of technology (such as e-mail or instant messaging). • 10% of victims report being monitored with global positioning systems (GPS), and 8% report being monitored through video or digital cameras, or listening devices. [Katrina Baum et al. , “Stalking Victimization in the United States, ” (Washington, DC: BJS, 2009). ]

Technology & Stalking 3. 4 million people over the age of 18 are stalked each year in the United States. • 3 in 4 stalking victims are stalked by someone they know. 30% of stalking victims are stalked by a current or former intimate partner. • 10% of stalking victims are stalked by a stranger. • Persons aged 18 -24 years experience the highest rate of stalking.

On-line Chat Services Yahoo! AOL MSN Several others

On-line Chat Services AOL-offers both paid services and free service. n n Children’s chat rooms are monitored by AOL employees & have parent safety controls. AIM (AOL Instant Message) – free, so users can hide their identity.

On-line Chat Services Yahoo- free to everyone n n n Easier for users to hide identity. Has safety features including an “ignore list” which allows users to filter out other users. Can also filter out inappropriate language.

MSN On-line Services E-mail Services Authentication Service: Windows Live ID Instant Messaging: Windows Live Messenger Social Networking Services: Windows Live Spaces & MSN Groups Custom Domains: Windows Live Admin Center & Office Live Small Business Online File Storage: Office Live Workspace & Windows Live Sky. Drive Gaming: Xbox Live, Playstation, Wii

On-line Gaming Xbox Playstation Wii n n n On-line with other players Can talk to each other, send im’s Games often centered around violence. (Runescape, Halo, Call of Duty Black Ops).

Cell Phones n n Can access internet, download images, music, send e-mail and text messages, and much more. (Like mini computer). Always careful about placement of computer in home. How many of you look at your child’s cell phone? Trend of children sending nude images of themselves to friends. (Sexting).

Safety Issues with Cell Phones Same issues with social networking, online gaming, and chat rooms. Also have geo-tagging. Texting while driving. Sexting

Texting 39 -08 -23. Use of a wireless communications device prohibited. The operator of a motor vehicle that is part of traffic may not use a wireless communications device to compose, read, or send an electronic message.

Texting by a minor 39 -08 -24. Use of electronic communication device by minor prohibited. n An individual at least 16 and under 18 years of age who has been issued a class D license may not operate an electronic communication device to talk, compose, read, or send an electronic message while operating a motor vehicle that is in motion, except to obtain emergency assistance.

Sexting “Sexting” refers to the sending of a photograph or other visual image, depicting a person in the partial or total state of nudity, via text message, from one cell phone to another. Once the initial image is sent, it can be disseminated rapidly to countless others.

What is it called to Law Enforcement? Dissemination of Child Pornography After you click “SEND” you no longer control the image or how it is used. By clicking “send” you are – breaking the law.

What Can Happen? NDCC 12. 1 -27. 1 -02. Promoting Obscenity to Minors. Guilty of class C Felony if “recklessly promote to a minor any material or performance which is harmful to minors”.

What Can Happen? N. D. C. C 12. 1 -27. 2 -04. 1 Possession of Certain Materials Prohibited. n n Class C felony to knowingly possess any motion picture, photograph, or other visual representation that includes sexual conduct by a minor These are state charges, if charged federally, the penalties are more severe.

Federal Charges for Child Pornography Possession (18 U. S. C. § 2252 A (a)(5)(B)) n Statutorily: n n First Offense – Max 10 years Prior Sex Offense- Min. 10 years; Max. 20 years Distribution & Receipt(18 U. S. C. §§ 2252 A(a)(1)&(2) and 2252 A(a)(2)) n Statutorily: n n First Offense-Mandatory Min. 5 yrs; Max 20 yrs. Prior Sex Offense- Mandatory Min. 15 yrs; Max 40 yrs.

Federal Charges for Child Pornography Production (18 U. S. C. § 2251(a)) n Statutorily n n First Offense- Mandatory Min. 15 yrs; Max. 30 yrs. Prior Sex Offense-Mandatory Min. 25 yrs; Max 50 yrs. Online Enticement (18 U. S. C. § 2422(b)) n Statutorily n n Mandatory Min. 10 yrs; Max. Life Advisory Guidelines (U. S. S. G. § 2 Ga. 3) 97 -121 months

Bullying Can often lead to bullying of child if images are sent to others. Can lead to multiple problems n n n Embarrassment Isolation Depression Suicide Cassidy Andel Case

Cassidy Andel Committed suicide November 4 th, 2010. Several factors contributed to her death to include depression & bullying.

ND Bullying Law NDCC 15. 1 -19. (Added to the student and safety chapter). Defines bullying and requires school districts to adopt a policy before July 1, 2012. “Conduct” includes use of technology or other electronic means. Problem: covers conduct only occurs on school grounds, bus, or school event.

Sexting & Bullying Children don’t understand long term consequences. May be unaware of potential predators. Nude images and sexually explicit videos are exchanged daily among predators.

How do we keep our children safe? Need to understand the problem Children are bombarded with a wealth of information (good & bad). n Recent Study Internet-initiated Sex Crimes against Minors: Implications for Prevention Based on Findings from a National Study n JANIS WOLAK, J. D. , DAVID FINKELHOR, Ph. D. , AND KIMBERLY MITCHELL, Ph. D. n

Keep In Mind Results n Victims in Internet-initiated cases were predominantly young teens. n Seventy-six percent were between 13 & 15 years old n 75% of victims were girls

Statistics Continued Ninety-nine percent of offenders were male. 76% of first encounters between victims & offenders occurred in on-line chat rooms. Most offenders took time to develop relationships with victims. 64% percent communicated online with victims for more than 1 month.

Statistics Continued 79% included telephone conversations. 48% of offenders sent pictures online to victims. 47% sent or offered gifts or money. n Gifts ranged from small tokens like jewelry & teddy bears to items like clothing, cell phones, and digital cameras. Investigators described victims in ½ of the cases as being in love with or having feelings of close friendship toward offenders.

The Role of Deception Although most of the offenders were much older than their victims, deception about these large age differences was a rare feature of these crimes. Only 5% of offenders represented themselves online as peers of victims by claiming they were age 17 or younger.

Deception & Sexual Solicitation Deception about sexual motives was also uncommon. Although 21% of offenders hid or misrepresented their motives, most of these deceivers were open about wanting sex from their victims. 80% brought up sexual topics during online communications with victims.

Kinds of Sex Crimes That Occurred In 89% of cases with face-to-face meetings, offenders had sexual intercourse, oral sex, or other form of penetrative sex with victims. Only 5% of cases involved violent offenses, mostly rape or attempted rape.

Does it happen in Fargo? YES The Fargo Police Department has made 8 arrests since June 2010. n 2 Detectives within the department conduct on -line investigations. Prior to this, worked in with Perverted Justice.

Case Examples n Chad Seeba Spring of 2008, worked as IT Specialist during the week in MN, but resided in Fargo, ND. CP discovered in his office in MN Seeba’s wife contacts Fargo PD Shaw obtained consent Hundreds of images of CP and videos on computer.

Case Examples Allen Halstad n n n December of 2007 initiates chat with Fargo undercover officer. Believed he was talking to a 13 yr old female. Undercover notifies Moorhead PD. Halstad initiates chat with undercover Moorhead officer. Invites Fargo undercover to meet for sexual purposes. Halstad interviewed, confesses, and is arrested.

Case Examples Halstad n n n Charged with solicitation of a minor. 35 months. 15 year registration as sex offender.

Michael Novotny

Michael Novotny 63 year old male has on-line chat with what he believed to be a 14 year old female. Has text conversations with female where he solicits her for sex. August 3 rd, 2010, drove to Fargo to meet 14 year old and was arrested. Sentenced to 5 years in prison.

Michael Novotny

Bernard Fischer

Bernard Fischer 32 year old male approached what he believed to be a 14 year old female in a chat room. After several chats, where he solicited the female for sex he goes to West Acres to meet her. Fischer is arrested. Found CP in his digital media.

Bernard Fischer is charged federally. Sentenced to 17 ½ years in prison.

Fischer Search Warrant

Fischer Search Warrant

Fischer Search Warrant

Fischer Search Warrant

Daniel Thomas

Daniel Thomas

Daniel Thomas 55 year old male approached what he believed to be a 14 year old female in chat room. Chatted for 7 months. Thomas was very sexual in every chat and exposed himself nude via web cam on 4 separate occasions to the female.

Daniel Thomas Arrested in April of 2011. Thomas had gun in his vehicle when he showed up to meet the 14 year old female. (Does have concealed weapons permit). Sentenced to 6 months, probation for 7 years, and register as a sex offender.

What Can Happen? N. D. C. C. 12. 1 -20 -05. 1 Luring minors by computer or other electronic means. n n Class B felony if the adult is 22 years or older and the adult reasonably believes the minor is under the age of 15. (10 yrs, $10, 000 fine). Class C felony if the adult is 22 & believes minor is 15 -17 years old or the adult is under 22 years old and reasonably believes the minor is under the age of 15. (5 yrs, $5, 000 fine).

What is Law Enforcement Doing? Project Safe Childhood n n n Nationwide U. S. Department of Justice initiative. Designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by U. S. Attorney’s Offices, federal, state, and local law enforcement.

What is Law Enforcement Doing? ICAC Task Forces n n n Created to assist state & local law enforcement agencies to enhance their investigative response to offenders who use the internet. North Dakota has a task force which is led by ND BCI. Fargo Police Department is a member.

What is Law Enforcement Doing? Fargo Police Department n n Created Crimes Against Children Unit (3 Detectives) 7 School Resource Officers

We Need Your Help! Parents n n n Education Involvement Information Community n n n Awareness Participation Partnership

Parent’s Role Talk to your children. n n Have them show you their profiles. Be aware many kids have more than 1!!! Place computer in common area of home. Keep in mind the things that can be done with a cell phone. Learn as much as you can about the internet.

Parent’s Role Check history on computer. n Can purchase software Remember gaming systems can also connect to the internet. Learn abbreviations kids are using. http: //www. webopedia. com/quick_ref/text messageabbreviations. asp http: //www. urbandictionary. com/