Misuse of the Internet - Consequences and the law
Internet safety
- Tips for parents
- Tips for teens
- What is `sexting`?
- Sextortion
- Misuse of the Internet - Consequences and the law
Criminal Code Offences
The following Criminal Code Offences apply if the Internet is used in a negative way:
Luring a child
- Using the Internet to entice youth (anyone under the age of 18) to meet for sexual acts or to help arrange sexual encounters is a crime under the Criminal Code of Canada.
Child pornography and making sexually explicit material available to a child
- There can be serious consequences for a person who sends sexually explicit photos or videos of someone under the age of 18, even if the sender knows the individual. For example, if a young person were to share a sexual photo or video from a boyfriend or girlfriend who is under the age of 18, it could be considered distribution of child pornography.
- Anyone communicating with a child in a sexual manner can be very dangerous and needs to be reported. Tell your child they must alert you if someone asks him/her to make or share sexual images or videos.
Criminal harassment and uttering threats
- Using the Internet to threaten or bully is a crime that can lead to criminal charges, even if a child thinks it’s in good fun.
- Cellphones can be used for cyberbullying too. Harassing text messages or unwanted images sent from cellphones count as cyberbullying.
Underage online gambling
- Sites such as e-casinos, card games, live bets and poker are popular among teens. These sites require you to be 18 or 19 years of age. Youth from 13 to 19 years of age can be held criminally responsible for activities related to online gambling.
For more info or to get help:
- BullyText is a tool to engage youth using text messaging that features various bullying scenarios; the choices youth make while texting determines how the scenarios play out with their friends and others.
- Provides a broad range of information for parents and youth to help them stay safe in the cyber world.
- Provides information to youth who have been impacted by a sexual picture/video being shared online, by email or by text.
Need to report something?
Go to www.cybertip.ca or contact your local RCMP.
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