2006 news releases

SaskTel Supports cybertip!ca to help Combat Internet Child Sexual Exploitation

July 21, 2006

Cybertip.ca, Canada’s official tipline for reporting online sexual exploitation of children, is pleased to announce that they have entered into a sponsorship agreement with SaskTel. The partnership will help to increase awareness in Saskatchewan of the potential of online sexual exploitation of children, encouraging people to monitor children’s Internet activities and report online child-related sexual content to www.cybertip.ca.

“We commend SaskTel for making online children protection a priority,” said Lianna McDonald, Executive Director of Cybertip.ca. “Recent child pornography arrests in Saskatchewan highlight the importance of SaskTel’s contribution and the need for people to take action and report suspected online child sexual abuse.”

Cybertip.ca receives and analyzes reports of child pornography, online luring of children, child-sex tourism and children exploited through prostitution and forwards potentially illegal content to law enforcement. Launched officially in January 2005, with support from the Government of Canada, the more than 10,000 reports to Cybertip.ca have resulted in 21 arrests and more than 1,200 websites shutdown.

"As an internet service provider, SaskTel is pleased to support and help promote Cybertip.ca as Canada’s official tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children to the appropriate legal authorities." said John Meldrum, SaskTel Vice- President of Regulatory Affairs.

To help raise public awareness, educational materials will be distributed throughout Saskatchewan that will urge people to report online child sexual exploitation to www.cybertip.ca. Information about Cybertip.ca with links to the www.cybertip.ca website have also been placed online at www.sasktel.com and at www.mysask.com. 

National surveys have shown that parents are woefully unaware of children’s online activities and the potential threats to children on the Internet. Sites of interest to children including social networking forums, games, and chatrooms are targets for those who use the anonymity of the Internet to prey on young people.

"SaskTel has always been a strong supporter of community and cultural organizations in Saskatchewan," Watson said. "This service will provide another opportunity for community and cultural groups to showcase their activities to their communities and to the rest of the province."

“The best way for parents to protect their children online is to be actively engaged in these activities and to closely monitor Internet use,” said Ms. McDonald. “Children are not equipped to deal with the adult situations they may encounter online so we’re asking parents and educators to help us ensure that the Internet is a positive experience for children.”

The public is urged to report online child sexual exploitation to www.cybertip.ca or by calling toll free 1-866-658-9022. If a child is in imminent danger, call 911. For more information on Cybertip.ca and to access Internet safety strategies go to www.Cybertip.ca.

About SaskTel
SaskTel employs over 3,800 people in communities throughout Saskatchewan and is the leading full service communications provider in the province. It offers competitive voice, data, internet, entertainment and multimedia services, web hosting, text and messaging services over a state-of-the-art digital network. The Corporation also provides cellular and wireless data services, security monitoring services, directory services, in-room communications services to the healthcare sector through Hospitality Network, telecommunications consulting service through SaskTel International and national communications services through Navigata Communications. Visit SaskTel at www.sasktel.com .

Contact

Signy Arnason , Director - Cybertip.ca
Phone: (204) 945-1861

Michelle Englot , SaskTel Corporate Affairs
Phone: (306) 777-4476
E-mail: michelle.englot@sasktel.sk.ca