QThese are two testimonies made known by Blue Telephone on the occasion of the Day against pedophilia and child pornography on May 5th.
«Isabel is 16 years old, she contacts us and says: “I’m going through something very bad. I was writing to a boy from my school and after a while I trusted him (since we were almost together). During a video call I showed myself while I was in the shower. Now he made me screen recording and I think he’s sending her around…”.
The operator asks what can be seen in the recording and Isabel replies: «I don’t know, they told me that you can see a small piece of the face and a part of the body. From what I know, breasts and private parts. I haven’t seen this video. I found out about it from a friend of mine, who found out about it from a classmate of his. I don’t know if it was sent around but I only know that it was seen by at least 5 people. He only has screen recording, since I didn’t send any kind of explicit content via chat. The registration was made about a month ago but I only discovered it today. He told me to stay calm and safe with him, that he would never divulge anything or do anything to hurt me.” Isabel says she hasn’t spoken “to any adults.” The operator tells her that he will inform the specialists and she provides her data and those of the boy.
Fiorenza Sarzanini (photo by Carlo Furgeri Gilbert).
«Mattia is 17 years old, he contacts us and says: “I entered the Telegram platform. I was contacted by an account with the profile photo of a good-looking young girl. Shortly after I received a photo of a seductive girl from this user. I responded by sending a photo of myself I had just taken, dressed, reflected in the mirror and my face partially visible.”
We need to inform young people about the risks for those who agree to be the protagonist of intimate videos. (photo Getty Images)
The operator writes: «A moment after sharing this photo, Mattia receives the same photo: this time he is naked, stripped of his clothes. This image would have been generated by an Artificial Intelligence feature. After a while a new message arrives: “Either you pay 3,600 euros or I will spread this image to all your contacts”».
What Isabel suffered is called revenge porn, it is a serious crime. What Mattia suffered is called sextortion, it is a serious crime. We need to inform young people, explain what the risks are for those who agree to be the protagonist of intimate videos and for those who spread them. Above all, we must be very clear about the need to inform at least one adult when we become involved in a story like these. Before it’s too late.
Is enough being done to inform kids about online child pornography? Write to us at [email protected]
All articles by Fiorenza Sarzanini.
iO Donna © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
