• Child Protection Force founder, attorney Milani Salpitikorala on needing better budgets to fight online child abuse

According to the International Criminal Police Organisation, more than 60% of child sexual abuse material now originates on platforms used daily by children. Closer to home, cybercrimes against children in South Asia have seen a threefold increase since the pandemic. In Sri Lanka, while smartphone penetration among youth is rising, digital safety education remains scarce, and only a fraction of reported cases results in legal action. There is artificial intelligence (AI)-generated imagery and encrypted platforms making detection and prevention even harder. So, the question is, how can we protect our children from these threats? And how can we equip them to deal with the dangers of the internet? 

Child Protection Force founder, attorney-at-law Milani Salpitikorala was on ‘Kaleidoscope’ to delve deep into how, why, and when children face online abuse.

Following are excerpts from the interview:

How bad is the problem of online child abuse in Sri Lanka?

We have seen a recent surge in the cases that come directly to us at the Child Protection Force, which is a very small organisation. People reach out saying, ‘This is happening to me, can you do something about it?’ We have seen a recent surge, and there have been a few news articles here and there, but, there is a surge globally.

How do children get exploited online? What sort of abuse is there? How do we recognise it as abuse?

There are lots of online crimes – from fraud to identity theft, but also sexual crimes and the grooming of children. This usually starts when a child has unlimited access to a device that is not protected. There are lots of device protection tools for children that can be used. Tech is essential for the world now, even for children – but, we need to be aware of safe ways to use it. 

Children are groomed by online predators – people who probably live in some faraway village in some faraway country and are targeting certain children. Children are in a vulnerable space in countries in crisis, like ours, or in other countries where there is war. We are in a crisis because of the financial situation; people need money. So, we have people willing to sell pictures of their own children in exchange for money. 

When children have unlimited access and there are organised crime networks, they know exactly where to target and who to reach out to. Many kids play online games with other people, most of them adults, and then chat with them. That’s how it can happen – through games and online platforms. But, if parents are aware, we can easily have these situations monitored at home. 

In your experience, what are the long-term psychological effects that this can have on children?

Sri Lanka has a high rate of self-harm. From what we’ve seen, the immediate reaction when online crime happens is this: your privacy is out there in the world. A lot of young people will resort to things, and they don’t have the proper support. Some children will reach out to a supportive adult – mother, father, guardian – which makes it easier. But, when that support is not there, there is a lot of psychological trauma that they go through. 

I’m not a professional in the field, so I can’t tell you exactly, but, we have seen children retreat into their shells. And, if there is no support, it can result in drastic situations like self-harm.

How can children be empowered enough to recognise a scam and report it without fear or shame or stigma?

It’s definitely about identifying that stranger. I have had many children tell me, ‘Aunty, I was playing this game and this guy asked me where in Sri Lanka I live’. Some children laugh it off and say, ‘I told him I live in Timbuktu’ or whatever. 

But, that question alone is a huge red flag – someone you just met online asking where you live, how old you are, and your details. Red flags like that are definitely something that children should be aware of. 

And of course, young love – sending photographs over the phone – that’s also sometimes where it starts. Pictures get sent, and when the breakup happens, there’s revenge and sharing.

Recently on the news, two children were brought in because they had AI-generated images. We’re seeing a lot of cases these days in urban communities, where girls’ faces are being used, and AI is generating the bodies, and those images are being shared. One person shares it with one group – maybe a sports group – a cricket team or a water polo team – and from there it goes to 500 other groups. That is where you will find organised crime — the people spreading these images. It might start here, but, once it spreads, it’s really difficult to control. 

However, there are platforms like the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and Sri Lanka has a cybercrime hotline. We need to create a lot of awareness for children. If photographs are published, there are ways to get them taken down. You can directly contact the NCMEC and get it removed. There are resources available, but, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is foolproof, and therefore, awareness is key.

Is the problem more urban than rural, or is there no line?

It’s definitely not just urban and cyber abuse is spreading like wildfire. I know someone whose 13-year-old son is completely addicted to online games, playing with unknown people. And they live in Madolsima – that’s a faraway town in Badulla. A gorgeous Town, but they don’t even have phone signals sometimes, and yet, this child is addicted to the internet. Think about that. 

How do we make parents and guardians aware of the risks that children face while they are online? 

Schools need to take this on, and schools must never work in silos. Some schools don’t really involve the parents, and that is a massive problem. They try to deal with the problem within the school and discipline children via horrendous methods.

The solution to awareness is a triad: the teacher, the child, and the parent or guardian. All three must be involved when we discuss safety mechanisms. The school must take the first step to create a balance among the parents, because parents often don’t know. I’ve shown parents screenshots from really nasty sites, and that’s when they realise the extent of the problem. 

Every person with a child needs to be aware of these dangers.

What kind of nationwide digital literacy can be shared on safety for adults and children alike? 

National media can create awareness – that is a responsibility. When we were small, there was an advertisement of a child hiding and showing the number four to call the Police Women and Children’s Bureau. That was about 30 years ago. Now, we have so many more resources to create better child protection awareness. It has to be a priority. 

The media is what takes the message out to the world. Sri Lanka has a lot of child protection challenges, and the media can play a huge role in creating awareness. 

Right now, the whole sector is working, but, not many are doing awareness. The media often takes one case and exposes everything about the child and the school. Instead of that, if we can shift to creating awareness – about everything, all of child protection – that will be effective in preventing such things from happening.

Are the laws adequate in dealing with cybercrime?

Definitely not. And, even if we have good laws, the implementation is very bad. There are huge delays. When a case takes 15 years, evidence gets lost, witnesses don’t want to come forward, and eventually, there is an acquittal. 

The perpetrator stays free all those 15 years, and then, after 15 years, he/she walks away without any punishment for what they have done. Implementation is the big problem but, it’s not a recent one; it’s a problem we’ve had since long years ago as well. 

Given that it is a global problem – this can extend from Sri Lanka to Africa, or America, or wherever – what challenges do law enforcement agencies face in bringing these predators to court?

Most of the time, we work with very good officers – very passionate – but, they’re under-resourced. They don’t have the devices. Sometimes, they have to investigate using their personal phones, and then the defence picks that up easily – investigations weren’t done properly, they say. That is how cases get delayed, and there are acquittals.

Law enforcement and the child protection sector in Sri Lanka are extremely under-resourced. In the national budget, women and children get the lowest allocation. Until that is prioritised, I don’t see anything positive happening. 

The country must finance and allocate resources for child protection. And, with the cybercrime crisis exacerbating into unimaginable proportions, we are certainly not ready.

Any lessons we can take from other countries?

It is not that there is no crime in other countries – look at the United States of America and the United Kingdom for instance – child crime is massive. But, the victimisation after reporting is very low. And, law enforcement is quick. They report back in minutes. It is the systems that need improvement in Sri Lanka. 

Take Singapore, which once wanted to be like Sri Lanka – their child protection systems are excellent. Within six months, a case is done and dusted, the order given, everything sorted. And, they have an integrated system; law enforcement, doctors, family services, child protection, victim advocacy – everyone works together on a case. In Sri Lanka, we work in silos and certain institutions are at loggerheads. These are the reasons for delays. 

Child protection is non-controversial – nothing to do with politics. On a ground level, people just need to work together.

(The writer is the host, director, and co-producer of the weekly digital programme ‘Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo’ which can be viewed on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. She has over three decades of experience in print, electronic, and social media)