digital inclusion and cyber crime – helping pedophiles form networks

A conference in Rio de Janeiro will start Monday to discuss cyber crime including pedophilia and will be discussing the digital divide/digital inclusion. The conference is entitled the UN Internet Governance Forum, a product of the World Summit that took place in Tunisia in 2005.  Among its topics is, of course, governance issues on the internet. It is expected that

2,000 participants from 100 countries will examine ways to tackle pedophilia and cybercrime. [The conference] will also discuss the implications of more than 80 percent of the world’s population not having access to the worldwide network, mainly those in developing countries.

Apparently ‘millions of pedophiles’ have been enabled by the openness of the Internet and have been able to connect and form networks:

The US Congress also gave information recently that hinted at the size of the problem. According to an agent in the Justice Department’s special crimes investigation bureau, the Internet has allowed “maybe millions” of pedophiles in the world to form a network online. [link]

For more information on the Forum, visit their official website.

wiki wiki wiki: the good, the bad and the ugly

wikipedia.jpgOf course by now everyone knows wikipedia the most famous and infamous citizen collaboration project. Well.. there are few noteworthy others using the same concept:

1- Mengospedia [link]: well this is my very own wiki created for Middle East NGOs. I have just launched it and am hoping that people will take the plunge and participate. Not sure if they will though. But.. we’ll see. This is a unique and first-time project in the Arab Middle East.

citpendium.png2- Citzendium [link]: Well this wiki promises to tackle the ‘problem’s of wikipedia. Its motto is “A wiki with experts and real names. A new knowledge society.” It says that

“The Citizendium (sit-ih-ZEN-dee-um), a “citizens’ compendium of everything,” is an open wiki project aimed at creating an enormous, free, and reliable encyclopedia.  The project, started by a founder of Wikipedia, aims to improve on the Wikipedia model by adding “gentle expert oversight” and requiring contributors to use their real names.”

Hmmm… I am not sure I am thrilled with the idea. It seems we are back to regular encyclopedias, aren’t we? what’s the poin of it being a wiki then?

3-  Conservapedia [link]:  need I write more? 🙁

Well.. enough for now.. I think I got stuck at conservapedia.