Pornography/Child Abuse

Note: this risk refers to the damage to mainstream Internet use caused by publicity about prosecutions for illegal and unsavoury activities; not about the activities themselves.

Summary

Publicity on Internet safety and child pornography arrests may damage confidence in the use of the Internet for other purposes.

Mechanism

The Internet is not safe for unsupervised children due to the activities of stalkers and potential child molesters. It is also used to trade child pornography. Both of these unacceptable uses are countered, in part, by publicity. Internet safety is promoted, rightly, to reduce the chances of children falling prey to stalkers or other undesirables. Those trading child pornography are punished publicly in order to deter others. The result is that publicity about the Internet often seems to focus on its negatives uses.

Comment

This is less of an issue than it used to be. Since the Internet has become mainstream, people are aware of its benefits and reporting does not concentrate so much on its sensational aspects.

Example Mitigations

Education on risks.

Support "Safety" groups.

Prosecutions.