posted Apr 6, 2010, 2:38 PM by TexasTechies .org
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updated Apr 6, 2010, 2:46 PM
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Consumer Alert: Parents Should Keep Children Away From new Video Chat Web Site Chatroulette.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 8, 2010, www.texasattorneygeneral.gov, CONTACT: Press Office at (512) 463-2050
An increasingly popular Web site poses a threat to Texas children by
giving users – including dangerous sex offenders – an opportunity to
conduct live video chats with randomly selected participants.
Armed with only a Web camera and Internet access, www.chatroulette.com
users are paired with a random stranger for a video chat. Neither a
login nor registration is required before young users can be
face-to-face with a total stranger. Worse, users who simply click
“next” are shuffled to a new video chat partner.
An undercover investigation by the Cyber Crimes Unit revealed startling
results. Nearly half of the randomly selected users encountered by
Cyber Crimes investigators immediately exposed themselves and conducted
sexually explicit acts on camera.
In light of the serious threat that children will be exposed to graphic
sexual conduct, Texas parents should prohibit their children from
accessing www.chatroulette.com. Although site users are supposed to be
at least 16 years old, the rule is not clearly enforced – which means
parents’ preventative role is particularly important.
Attorney General Abbott reminds parents to closely monitor their
children’s Internet activities by using the following safety tips:
• Place the computer in a public room at home so that parents can
monitor their children’s Internet use. Do not allow computers in a
child’s bedroom or permit the use of Web cameras.
• Make sure children know never to agree to a face-to-face meeting with
someone they meet online and never to divulge personal information to
an Internet stranger.
• Stay informed. Surf the Internet with children or at least talk to them about the Web sites they are visiting.
• Establish ground rules for children’s Internet usage, including the
hours they may surf and the kinds of Web sites they may visit. Post the
rules near the computer.
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