What is Chatting?

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Internet 101

Surfing safely

Naviguez en sécurité

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What is Chatting?

Presented by Internet 101

Police and partners . . . working together to web-proof our communities.

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“By the end of 2004, there were 75 web-related child luring cases before the courts according to Canada’s Department of Justice.”

- The Ottawa Citizen, March 2005

Similar cases continue to appear before the courts.

“U.S. man accused of luring 14 year old Ottawa boy to hotel for sex, through the Internet.”

- The Ottawa Citizen, March 2005

“Toronto man jailed for pre-arranged meeting with a 13 year old girl. When arrested at the meeting place, he wasn’t wearing any underwear and was carrying a condom.”

- The Toronto Sun, July 2005

“Toronto teen charged with distributing child pornography after exacting revenge upon his former girlfriend by putting her nude photographs on the Internet.”

- The Ottawa Citizen, April 2005

“Montreal suburb man arrested after coercing a 13 year old Winnipeg girl into posing nude in front of her web cam.”

- The Winnipeg Sun, April 2005

“Whitby, Ontario pastor sentenced to one year in jail on two counts of Internet luring.”

- The Toronto Star, December 2005

“34 year old Newfoundland man charged with luring a 13 year old Illinois girl.”

- Broadcast News, December 2005

“Richmond Hill Ontario engineer convicted of Internet luring after engaging in ‘vile and explicit’ online chats with a 13 year old girl.”

- The Toronto Sun, April 2005

“38 year old Calgary man sentenced to jail after exchanging nude web cam movies with a 13 year old girl and later meeting her.”

- The Edmonton Journal, October 2005

“Hamilton, Ontario man charged with luring a 13 year old boy, invitation to sexual touching and possession of child pornography.”

- The Hamilton Spectator, October 2005

“Winnipeg man arrested after using Internet to lure three teenage girls to a hotel room where he purchased sex acts and photographed them partially nude.”

- The Winnipeg Sun, May 2005

“Calgary trucker jailed after exposing himself twice to a 13 year old boy in an Internet chat room.”

- The Calgary Herald, April 2005

“32 year old Bedford, Nova Scotia man charged with Internet luring after engaging a 13 year old in a sexually explicit conversation in a chat room.”

- The Chronicle-Herald, March 2005

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children

strangers

instant messaging

Woman’s voice (speaks throughout presentation):

The news excerpts you have just seen all have three things in common: children, strangers and instant messaging.

You may have heard your children say that they were chatting with their friends on the Internet. Do you really know what that means?

White text on black screen. Fades to image of a chat log with entries appearing in it.

“chatting”

Chatting or instant messaging is simply two or more people communicating together in real-time over the Internet using an instant messaging software.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

This software gives us the ability to communicate on a global scale; to meet and discuss various issues with people from around the world.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

This can be a very positive experience, where we can learn more about each other’s culture and make new friends.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

What you are seeing right now is an actual chat session using one of the most popular pieces of free software in the world: MSN Messenger.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

Users of this software communicate by sending each other written messages.

To speed up these messages, the words are often abbreviated to the point where it may appear that the users are speaking a whole new language.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

At first glance, it may appear impossible to follow a chat session, let alone understand what the jargon and symbols actually mean.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

A conversation between well-versed chat users can be very confusing for those who don’t understand the lingo.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

In addition to written messages, instant messaging software allows the users to see and hear each other.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

Users can post pictures, or pix, of themselves on the screen so that the other party can see who they are chatting with.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

This technology also allows for the use of live cameras, commonly referred to as webcams.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

This small camera may be positioned to broadcast a live video of the user as he or she is typing away at the computer.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

This allows for a more personal approach to chatting, whereby users can smile and wave at each other.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

And finally, it is also possible to chat using microphones so that the users can speak to and hear each other, much like a telephone conversation.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

Although this is faster than having to type out messages, the most popular means of chatting still remains the use of instant messaging accompanied by a webcam.

Entries continue to appear in chat log.

This new form of communication has gained further popularity with the arrival of cell phones, which often have text messaging capabilities.

Image of chat log fades to white text on black screen.

“chatting”

faster communication over long distances

You`ve certainly noted that chatting offers many positive opportunities, such as faster communication over long distances.

On the other hand, the newspaper excerpts you saw earlier indicate that there are definite pitfalls.

Text disappears and silhouette or person at computer appears. Second silhouette appears, of child at computer. Silhouette of house appears above two figures.

With instant messaging, strangers now have access to your children in the place you thought was the safest, your home.

House disappears and text appears over silhouettes.

Sexual predators

children

Sexual predators also use instant messaging on the Internet. Never before have they been offered such a powerful tool with which to reach an endless number of potential victims.

New text appears over silhouette of sexual predator at computer and silhouette of child at computer. Speaking bubble appears over sexual predator’s head.

manipulating unsuspecting and vulnerable children

Predators have become experts at manipulating unsuspecting and vulnerable children.

New text appears above silhouettes.

befriend potential victims

complimenting them and telling them what they want to hear

“grooming”

They cunningly befriend potential victims, complimenting them and telling them what they want to hear. This process is referred to as grooming.

Silhouette of sexual predator at computer grows larger, rotates and disappears.

Instant messaging allows predators to hide behind their computer and to take on any persona they think will entice their victims.

Silhouette of child at computer grows larger, rotates and disappears.

While many children are very proficient at handling Internet technology, they are not as well-equipped to detect or evade the sophisticated schemes created by predators.

White text on black screen. Silhouette of sexual predator computer appears, then becomes smaller as image of chat log appears behind it.

predators

Sexual predators

Predators will lurk in public chatrooms, using an assumed persona and look for a child that might be vulnerable.

Silhouette of child at computer appears beside silhouette of sexual predator, both superimposed over image of chat log.  Speaking bubble appears above predator’s head and heart symbol appears above child’s head.

They spend a lot of time looking for their victims and know how to entice even normally-cautious children into a personal relationship.

Image of chat log shrinks behind silhouette of predator, then multiplies. Silhouette of child at computer also multiplies. Text appears superimposed overtop.

They may spend months luring children

Furthermore, these predators are very patient, and they often target more that one victim at a time. They may spend months luring children from the initial chatroom contact into a real-life meeting.

Silhouette of child at computer replaces silhouette of predator.

Usually the predators will pretend to be children as well when they are beginning to lure their victims.

Silhouette of recent child disappears, replaced by silhouette of sexual predator that was there before. Heart symbol appears above multiple silhouettes of children at computers.

When they think they are close to arranging a face-to-face meeting, they will slowly work towards letting their victims know that they are older than they pretended to be.

All but one of the child silhouettes and chat log images disappear. Heart symbol stays above the remaining child silhouette.

Some children will end the relationship as soon as they learn they're dealing with an adult, but in many cases the victims have begun to trust their new friend and are willing to accept the discrepancy. Some are even flattered by this amount of attention from an adult.

All images disappear, and white text rapidly appears on black screen.

“Whitby, Ontario pastor sentenced to one year in jail on two counts of Internet luring.”

- The Toronto Star, December 2005

“34 year old Newfoundland man charged with luring a 13 year old Illinois girl.”

- Broadcast News, December 2005

“Richmond Hill Ontario engineer convicted of Internet luring after engaging in ‘vile and explicit’ online chats with a 13 year old girl.”

- The Toronto Sun, April 2005

“38 year old Calgary man sentenced to jail after exchanging nude web cam movies with a 13 year old girl and later meeting her.”

- The Edmonton Journal, October 2005

“Hamilton, Ontario man charged with luring a 13 year old boy, invitation to sexual touching and possession of child pornography.”

- The Hamilton Spectator, October 2005

“Winnipeg man arrested after using Internet to lure three teenage girls to a hotel room where he purchased sex acts and photographed them partially nude.”

- The Winnipeg Sun, May 2005

“Calgary trucker jailed after exposing himself twice to a 13 year old boy in an Internet chat room.”

- The Calgary Herald, April 2005

“32 year old Bedford, Nova Scotia man charged with Internet luring after engaging a 13 year old in a sexually explicit conversation in a chat room.”

- The Chronicle-Herald, March 2005“

Because the Internet is not regulated for content like television is, there are often images or text posted online that are not appropriate for children to see.

Image of chat log appears.

You may be familiar with chatrooms, which are online areas where people meet to chat about shared interests.

But there are no screening procedures in place to prevent minors from entering, and as this screenshot indicates, the content of these discussions is not always suitable for children.

Chat log blurs and text appears in new entry, camera zooms in on entry.

im a girl 15 w/ cam…

This screenshot shows how easy it is for a teenager to attract attention in a public chatroom. In this particular case, the girl identified herself with the following information: I’m a girl, 15, with a webcam.

Camera zooms back to full view of chat log as new entries rapidly appear.

Within seconds of the message going across the Internet, the teenage girl was flooded with requests from men of all ages eager to establish a communication with her.

Windows Explorer window appears and camera zooms in, showing repeated requests from other members of chatroom to be allowed to see the girl when she is online and contact her.

Parents should be aware of the potential risks that their children are exposed to while using instant messaging on the Internet.

This is not intended to alarm parents but rather it is intended to raise their awareness.

Camera zooms back to full view of chat log. MSN Messenger windows pop up as those requesting to contact girl are given access by her. Camera zooms in on new windows. Camera zooms in on name of MSN Messenger and the number of chatroom members contacting the girl.

MSN Messenger

Although millions of children use instant messaging every day without incident, parents should remain vigilant.

All images disappear. Silhouette of child at computer fills screen. Image of chat log appears in the background and silhouette shrinks to one side. Second silhouette of child at computer appears beside first.

The most important rule to remember when chatting on the Internet is that everyone you are interacting with is a stranger.

Silhouette of predator at computer replaces silhouette of first child.

Regardless of how long you’ve been chatting with someone, you can never be certain that they are who they are pretending to be.

Heart symbol appears over remaining silhouette of child at computer. Image of chat log retreats behind silhouette of predator. Text appears above of silhouettes.

name

address

school

personal e-mail address

secret

Giving out personal information can put you at risk. Personal information such as your name, address, school, personal e-mail address should remain secret.

Text continues to appear above silhouettes.

nickname

save a copy of a chat

Use a moniker or a nickname that will not send the wrong message. Learn how to save a copy of a chat – this may be useful if you want to report something.

All images disappear. White text appears on black screen.

More than half of Canada’s youth use the Internet for instant messaging.

- Source: www.media-awareness.ca

Only 28% of parents are aware that their children use instant messaging.

- Source: www.media-awareness.ca

Among 11 and 12 year old instant messaging users, half of them say they communicate with people they only know through the Internet.

- Source: www.media-awareness.ca

In the 15 to 17 year old group, 72% visit chatrooms, and of this number, 60% visit adult chatrooms or go into the private rooms.

- Source: www.media-awareness.ca

Secondary school students have, on average, the names of ten people in their list of instant messaging contacts that they have never met in real life.

- Source: www.media-awareness.ca

Of the 13 to 14 year olds who use instant messaging, six out of ten converse with people they’ve only met online.

- Source: www.media-awareness.ca

Forty-three per cent of teenagers between 15 and 17 years old have been asked by someone they have met on the Net to meet in person. One out of five accepted the invitation.

- Source: www.media-awareness.ca

“Richmond Hill Ontario engineer convicted of Internet luring after engaging in ‘vile and explicit’ online chats with a 13 year old girl.”

- The Toronto Sun, April 2005

“38 year old Calgary man sentenced to jail after exchanging nude web cam movies with a 13 year old girl and later meeting her.”

- The Edmonton Journal, October 2005

“Hamilton, Ontario man charged with luring a 13 year old boy, invitation to sexual touching and possession of child pornography.”

- The Hamilton Spectator, October 2005

“Winnipeg man arrested after using Internet to lure three teenage girls to a hotel room where he purchased sex acts and photographed them partially nude.”

- The Winnipeg Sun, May 2005

“Calgary trucker jailed after exposing himself twice to a 13 year old boy in an Internet chat room.”

- The Calgary Herald, April 2005

“We’d like other families and parents to be more aware of what their kids are doing on the Internet.”

- The father of a 12 year old boy lured by a predator over the Internet.

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Narration

Monique Beauchamp

Text and Original Concept

Robert Bisson

With assistance from

Yvon Brault

Dana Townsend

Daniel Mulligan

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CyberWise.ca

MPF - FPM

Canada’s SchoolNet

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Lafbros Multimedia

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