Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
Last October, I found myself strolling through the cobblestone streets of Rome taking in the sights and sounds of the magical “This is Wonderland” event. It was like stepping through the looking glass in more ways than one. “Alice in Wonderland” is a story we all adore, but did you know that Lewis Carroll’s famous tale was inspired by a potentially dubious love connection with a 10-year-old muse? It invites us to contemplate the delicate balance between innocence and unseen dangers. And just as the origins of “Alice in Wonderland” are hidden and blurred, so too are the potential risks that lie in wait throughout the internet for today’s children.
As I returned home that evening, I began thinking back to earlier in the year, when I came upon an article about the arrest of a 36-year-old Roman man for pedophilia. It wasn’t just the heinous nature of the crime that captured my attention; it was also the global cooperation that took place to bring the man to justice. Based on a tip from the Australian police about explicit images on the internet depicting abuse of a minor, an arrest of the predator was quickly made. The Italian police were able to breach the dark web, find the images, and apprehend the perpetrator with remarkable rapidity.
The speed and efficiency of global cooperation intrigued me, so I contacted the Italian national police. I was led to their national cybercrime unit and the special task force within that unit known as the CNCPO (National Center for Combating Child Pornography Online). Through them, I was able to gain tremendous insight into the dark world of cyber-sexual crimes against minors. In the process, light was also shed on the special breed of compassionate and well-trained officers who work for the unit, as well as the NGO (non-government, non-profit organization) that is assisting them in their noble efforts.
Formerly known as Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) and now known as OUR Rescue, the American-based international NGO has been training law enforcement agencies in the latest technologies for the last 10 years while also running a victim-aftercare program. Having made it a priority to learn the latest technological tools to catch predators, CNCPO began working with OUR Rescue a little over a year ago. Wonderfully, the cooperation and friendship between the CNCPO and OUR Rescue has given each the tools to be more effective in their mission.
OUR Rescue technology rapidly removes CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) from the internet while helping to catch predators as quickly as possible to minimize the damage done to children and their families. It also helps officers extract identifying information from the images without having to view the abuse multiple times, which is damaging to the mental health of the officers. Safeguarding their mental health reduces the risk of them leaving the unit due to the stress, which in turn helps to keep experienced personnel on staff for longer periods.
OUR Rescue estimates that more than 2 million children are trafficked each year. With so many hidden dangers, even in places designed for children, how do we protect them? Here are some tips I’ve learned:
Use the parental controls on your child’s phone and computer. Establish an open dialogue with your children about the hidden dangers on internet-chat rooms, games where they chat with strangers, etc. Teach your children that it’s OK to say “no” if an online conversation feels uncomfortable. And it’s so important that children and teenagers understand that everything they post and share on the internet is there forever.
Although the subject matter of this column is dark, the intent is to shine a light not just on the dangers that surround our children, but also on the progress being made by real-life superheroes at organizations like CNCPO and OUR Rescue.
To report suspicious activity, call the 24-hour-a-day National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at 800-843-5678. Remember: If you see something, say something.
The above appears in the July 2024 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture. To subscribe, click here.
