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Home Newsroom 2005 News releases (archive) 2005-01-24: Cybertip.ca launched

Cybertip.ca launched to fight online child pornography

Internet Tipline Launched to Fight Child Sexual Exploitation

For Immediate Release

Ottawa, January 24, 2005 -- The fight against child pornography received a boost today with the national launch of Cybertip.ca, a tipline for the reporting of child sexual exploitation on the Internet. The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and the Honourable Gord Mackintosh, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Manitoba along with Irwin Cotler, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and RCMP Commissioner, Giuliano Zaccardelli, participated in the launch of Cybertip.ca, a national initiative spearheaded by Child Find Manitoba.

A public awareness campaign was also unveiled today to encourage Canadians from coast to coast to use Cybertip.ca to report incidents of suspected child sexual exploitation on the Internet. Reports can be made through an online form at www.cybertip.ca or by calling a toll-free phone line (1-866-658-9022).

“Cybertip.ca is a vital component of the Government of Canada’s National Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet and to combat those who use the Internet to threaten our children,” said Minister McLellan.

“I commend Child Find Manitoba for their leadership in the development of Cybertip.ca. The collaborative approach of industry, government and law enforcement has resulted in an effective reporting system to protect our children.”

“Expanding Cybertip.ca nationally underscores the need for cooperative approaches to better protect our children, the most vulnerable of vulnerable,” said Minister Cotler." Our efforts will also be strengthened by proposed legislative reforms now before Parliament that would give us the most comprehensive child protection laws of any country in the world.”

Cybertip.ca was created in partnership with the private and public sectors and law enforcement to combat the online victimization of children. In May 2004, the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness announced a 5-year funding agreement to support Cybertip.ca. In July 2004, Bell Canada announced a major 3-year contribution agreement to help secure ongoing success and financial security for the program. This significant support and contribution has enabled Cybertip.ca to roll out as Canada’s national tipline.

In addition, a number of industry partners provided considerable financial support to Cybertip.ca, including Microsoft, Telus, Shaw, Rogers, AOL Canada, MTS, and Cogeco. This partnership with the Internet industry has been instrumental in battling the online sexual exploitation of children on the Internet.

This initiative began as a pilot project in Manitoba in 2002. Since the beginning of the pilot phase, Cybertip.ca has received 2000 reports of child sexual exploitation, including child pornography, luring, child sex tourism and children who are prostituted.

“Manitoba is proud to have supported the development of Cybertip.ca and hosted the pilot phase. Its huge success -- as many as 400 websites shut down and ten arrests -- demonstrates the critical importance of launching this service nationally,” said Minister Mackintosh. “As a national reporting tool, Cybertip.ca will now allow all Canadians to engage in the fight against online sexual predators.”

“Cybertip.ca enables Canadians to take action by reporting child pornography and gives voice to the silent cries of victimized children,” said Lianna McDonald, Executive Director of Child Find Manitoba. “Child pornography is child abuse. It is a crime against the most vulnerable in society that is going largely unreported with devastating impacts on our children.”

Cybertip.ca receives and analyzes tips from the public about potentially illegal material and activities on the Internet and makes referrals to appropriate law enforcement agencies.

Cybertip.ca can be found on the Internet at www.cybertip.ca. Cybertip.ca also provides the public with information, education resources as well as support and referral services, to help Canadians keep themselves and their families safe on the Internet.



	Last updated: 2005-08-23		Important notices