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Online child protection officer: 'I see traumatic images every day' Online child protection officer: 'I see traumatic images every day'
(6 days later)
Laura Keisanen closes the window on her computer and gives a sickened sigh. Images of a three-year-old girl being raped by a man in his 40s fade from the screen. Seconds later Keisanen’s attention switches to the 1980s computer game Tetris, and for the next 20 minutes she concentrates on fitting brightly coloured blocks together. The game is all part of a day’s work for Keisanen, who as an adviser to Save the Children Finland’s digital and media unit is involved in policing the internet, and making it a safer place for children.Laura Keisanen closes the window on her computer and gives a sickened sigh. Images of a three-year-old girl being raped by a man in his 40s fade from the screen. Seconds later Keisanen’s attention switches to the 1980s computer game Tetris, and for the next 20 minutes she concentrates on fitting brightly coloured blocks together. The game is all part of a day’s work for Keisanen, who as an adviser to Save the Children Finland’s digital and media unit is involved in policing the internet, and making it a safer place for children.
“I see traumatic images every day, from six-year-olds being forced to touch one another while someone is filming, to infant girls being assaulted. It has been scientifically proved that playing Tetris straight after you see something traumatising helps you kind of forget the images,” says the 31-year-old former social worker.“I see traumatic images every day, from six-year-olds being forced to touch one another while someone is filming, to infant girls being assaulted. It has been scientifically proved that playing Tetris straight after you see something traumatising helps you kind of forget the images,” says the 31-year-old former social worker.
Keisanen’s work ranges from educating children about safe behaviour on the web, to running a hotline that aims to promote and speed up the removal of sex abuse material involving children. And, in a rare move, the unit maintains a preventive online self-help manual for people who are worried about their sexual interest in children.Keisanen’s work ranges from educating children about safe behaviour on the web, to running a hotline that aims to promote and speed up the removal of sex abuse material involving children. And, in a rare move, the unit maintains a preventive online self-help manual for people who are worried about their sexual interest in children.
“We believe that every child has a right to a good and safe childhood both offline and online,” she says. “Rapidly developing digital media is changing children’s lives and extending possibilities to find information, learn and communicate with others. It is a complex phenomenon, so a comprehensive approach is needed.”“We believe that every child has a right to a good and safe childhood both offline and online,” she says. “Rapidly developing digital media is changing children’s lives and extending possibilities to find information, learn and communicate with others. It is a complex phenomenon, so a comprehensive approach is needed.”
Keisanen explains how the work of the “Nettivije” hotline involves the daily assessment, classification and analysis of reports using state-of-the-art technology. The hotline enables any user to report online imagery or activity related to the sexual abuse of children. Keisanen explains how the work of the “Nettivihje” hotline involves the daily assessment, classification and analysis of reports using state-of-the-art technology. The hotline enables any user to report online imagery or activity related to the sexual abuse of children.
Figures show that in 2015, the Finnish hotline received nearly 3,600 reports of material allegedly showing the sexual abuse of children. Some 20% were classed as illegal, and of these 80% involved children under 13. Another 17% offended children’s rights by sexualising young people, such as dressing 10-year-olds in revealing underwear intended for adults. The remaining images were classified as sexual content not illegal (38%) or involved material no longer accessible (25%).Figures show that in 2015, the Finnish hotline received nearly 3,600 reports of material allegedly showing the sexual abuse of children. Some 20% were classed as illegal, and of these 80% involved children under 13. Another 17% offended children’s rights by sexualising young people, such as dressing 10-year-olds in revealing underwear intended for adults. The remaining images were classified as sexual content not illegal (38%) or involved material no longer accessible (25%).
Information deemed illegal is passed to the National Bureau of Investigation of Finland so laws can be enforced. Details about material hosted outside Finland is forwarded to the relevant country via the International Association of Internet Hotlines. This leads to the rapid removal of material and other measures.Information deemed illegal is passed to the National Bureau of Investigation of Finland so laws can be enforced. Details about material hosted outside Finland is forwarded to the relevant country via the International Association of Internet Hotlines. This leads to the rapid removal of material and other measures.
Meanwhile help for adults, children and young people to identify problems and take action early on is provided on a number of fronts by the digital unit. The Otanvastuun.fi (I take responsibility) website engages potential abusers to consider the consequences of their sexual activities directed at children, and provides tools for controlling their own harmful behaviour.Meanwhile help for adults, children and young people to identify problems and take action early on is provided on a number of fronts by the digital unit. The Otanvastuun.fi (I take responsibility) website engages potential abusers to consider the consequences of their sexual activities directed at children, and provides tools for controlling their own harmful behaviour.
In a separate move, an online youth centre – netari – supports young people by providing opportunities to create friendships on the internet. Aimed at reaching children who may find it difficult to talk to adults, it has a number of different “rooms” in which young people can enter to make friends, find support for education and careers, seek help or have one-to-one chats with youth workers.In a separate move, an online youth centre – netari – supports young people by providing opportunities to create friendships on the internet. Aimed at reaching children who may find it difficult to talk to adults, it has a number of different “rooms” in which young people can enter to make friends, find support for education and careers, seek help or have one-to-one chats with youth workers.
Counselling is among the services offered and more than 1,000 15- to 25-year-olds are helped annually. Support is also available through the mobile app Help.com where young people can talk with virtual police and experts, and trained volunteers at Victim Support Finland.Counselling is among the services offered and more than 1,000 15- to 25-year-olds are helped annually. Support is also available through the mobile app Help.com where young people can talk with virtual police and experts, and trained volunteers at Victim Support Finland.
The work of the unit does not stop there. “We are constantly developing the service,” says Keisanen. “It is important that we can be flexible and help those children who traditional services might not reach. That has involved setting up a Christmas Eve chatroom, as Christmas is not a happy holiday for everyone, and online support for pupils following a stabbing at a school in northern Finland. Different events can affect children in different ways.”The work of the unit does not stop there. “We are constantly developing the service,” says Keisanen. “It is important that we can be flexible and help those children who traditional services might not reach. That has involved setting up a Christmas Eve chatroom, as Christmas is not a happy holiday for everyone, and online support for pupils following a stabbing at a school in northern Finland. Different events can affect children in different ways.”