Microsoft has agreed to join forces with police forces in an effort to put a stop, or at least a huge dent in online child pornograhpy. The agreement calls for a two-year collaboration, with Microsoft developing a computer system that will allow global police agencies to share information in order to track online child predators.
Through implementation of the Child Exploitation Tracking System (CETS), which was developed by Microsoft Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and the Toronto Police Service, global police forces will have a much easier time in the sharing of necessary information to root out child predators and pornographers.
According to Microsoft’s release:
The new tracking system has already resulted in the November 2004 arrest of one alleged Toronto child pornographer. He was identified and targeted during beta testing of the computerized database and investigation system.
The system was unveiled at a press conference on April 7, 2005 by RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli and Microsoft Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Nancy Anderson.
Microsoft Canada President David Hemler honored Gillespie Wednesday night for sparking collaboration with the police agencies by presenting him with a plaque engraved with the original e-mail plea he sent to Gates.
“Criminals are using the Internet at an unprecedented rate to exploit the most vulnerable of our society: our children,” said the Honourable Anne McLellan, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. “I commend Canadian law enforcement and Microsoft Canada for their vision and leadership in creating a tool unlike any other in the world that will help keep our children safe from online predators.”
Ernie Allen, president and CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children feels this system is much needed and completely welcomed. This is indicated in is statement, which says,
“Thanks to the generosity and leadership of Microsoft and the vision of the Toronto Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, law enforcement across Canada and soon worldwide will employ a cutting-edge tool to address the epidemic of online child sexual exploitation
“We at the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children and our U.S.-based sister agency, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, applaud this historic innovation, and commit to work with Microsoft and our Canadian allies to expand CETS worldwide.”
Hopefully, CETS will do exactly what it was designed to do: curb, if not totally strangle online child pornography, while giving law enforcement officials a tool necessary to share this information.
Chris Richardson is a search engine writer and editor for Murdok. Visit Murdok for the latest search news.
