MTN Group has announced the launch of its Child Online Protection initiative by signing a partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
MTN claims to be the first Africa-wide telecommunications company to partner with the IWF.
The initiative is in line with the MTN “We’re good together” initiative that was launched in October aimed at demonstrating how through partnerships the telecom company can help to accelerate digital inclusion for the good of society.
Using IWF’s confidential reporting portal, MTN encourages its customers and members of the public to safely and anonymously report online Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). IWF will investigate all reports and work with country partner hotlines or international law enforcement agencies to ensure that confirmed cases of child sexual abuse content on the Internet are removed at source.
Rob Shuter, MTN Group CEO and president, said, “The free, open nature of information and communication technologies, while benefitting society, unfortunately also creates opportunities for people to develop online relationships with vulnerable children, join communities that harm children, and share sexually-abusive material on children.”
“Online safety is a key concern for our business, it is for this reason that we have partnered with Internet Watch Foundation to create an online community that its safe and from which all users, of all ages, can benefit. Through the partnership, we hope to play our part in the fight against the exploitation of children on the Internet and educating children and young people about the safe and responsible usage of ICT,” he added.
“We are making every possible effort to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to end all forms of violence against children. We believe that together, we can realise the right of every child to live free from fear, neglect, abuse and exploitation,” he concluded.
