Tembisa Firewalls Child Pornography

A SAMREF member explains to an IT technician how the pornography firewall filter works

Tembisa, November 2006 – The Filter Installation Project was launched at Tembisa Thusong Service Centre recently. By installing Internet filters and firewalls, state institutions ensure that state-owned electronic systems will not be used to access pornography, in particular child pornography. The telecentre at Tembisa was chosen to provide a model of good practice for all state institutions.

Subscribing to child pornography sites or downloading child pornography is an offence in terms of section 27(1) of the Films and Publications Act, No 65 of 1996.

The launch of the project follows on the heels of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign calling on everyone to ‘Act Against Abuse’. It is part of the National Programme of Action on Child Pornography.

A task team of experts, industry representatives and representatives of government departments, chaired by MP Annelize Van Wyk, explained how the team would proceed on advising the Ministry of Home Affairs on issues of policy-making, education, technical solutions, law and legal reform.

Safety against child pornography sites:

• Internet Safety is a booklet which provides guidelines on how to protect children from paedophiles and child molesters on the Internet. It provides useful tips and information on monitoring children’s use of the internet. It also has a list of useful websites on Internet safety issues and safe chat rooms for children.
• The Report on Internet Usage and the Exposure of Learners to Pornography in South African Schools is the result of a survey among learners from 13 to 17+ years, aiming to inform public policy and other measures aimed at:
  • minimising exposure to objectionable material, especially on the Internet
  • empowering children to positively respond to involuntary exposure to objectionable material whether online or offline.
• Contact the Film and Publication Board at 011 483 0971 for copies ofthe Internet Safety booklet, or visit their website: www.fpb.co.za
• Report child pornography sites to the police and to the FPB hotline: 0800 148 148
• Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in South Africa are self-regulatory; any ISP hosting a child pornography site has 24 hours to close the website
• Children are the main users of computers, yet computer companies do not budget for preventing child access to pornographic material.

The Tembisa Telecentre manager with two clients	The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs tests the filter installed at Alexandra Thusong Service Centre
CEO of the Film and Publications Board presents findings on the effects of pornography on children	The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs explains the filter project