ISPA assists the police

By Alex Kayle, Senior portals journalist

Johannesburg, 20 Feb 2009

The Internet Service Providers` Association of SA (ISPA) is helping the South African Police Service to clamp down on Internet crime.

The industry body has started IT training sessions with a KwaZulu-Natal-based multidisciplinary police taskforce responsible for the prevention of child pornography, prostitution and human trafficking.

The sessions are aimed at helping members of the taskforce understand the technical workings of the Internet and mobile devices, as well as how the police can use online resources to aid them in their work.

Mike Silber, ISPA regulatory advisor, says that, if the initiative proves successful in KwaZulu-Natal, it hopes to roll it out to other provinces with the permission of the National Prosecuting Authority.

"SA`s ISPs are all committed to helping the authorities fight crime in any way that they can. We are especially determined to help the authorities stamp out child pornography that is distributed across the Internet. ISPA is more than willing to share its technical and legal expertise with the police since we all have vested interests in the fight against crime."

Silber says ISPA is also assisting the police on a voluntary basis by providing technical assistance. "We`re giving them a deeper understanding of how the Internet works and the implications of crimes such as child pornography, hacking, fraud, DSL theft and phishing.

"Real child pornography cannot be found through a simple Google search and a technical forensic expert would be needed for the investigation. But forensic experts are stretched thin at the moment, so we are collaborating and informing the police officers on the ground what they can do in the investigation."

Silber says ISPA aims to equip the police with knowledge about the records ISPs are obliged to store, as well as the conditions under which they are willing and able to give authorities access to this information.