Basic Internet Rules

� Protect personal information. Do not post it on internet profiles and keep your password a secret.

� Do not post pictures of yourself,

your family or friends. � Never say anything mean or

untrue about someone online. � Remember that anything posted

online is public, not private information.

� Report online harassment or

any messages that make you feel uncomfortable.

� Turn on your firewall and only

download files from people or sites you know and trust.

� Remember that anything you do

online is recorded. Changing your profile does not delete old copies of it.

TORONTO POLICE SERVICE

EMERGENCY

9-1-1

POLICE NON – EMERGENCY

www.torontopolice.on.ca (416) 808-2222

Cyber Reporting

www.cybertip.ca

1-866-658-9022

Kids Help Line

www.kidshelpphone.ca

1-800-668-6868

TORONTO CRIME STOPPERS

1-800-222-TIPS (8477)

www.222tips.com

Community Mobilization Unit October 2007

Keeping you and your family safe online

YOU AND THE INTERNET

The Internet has become a primary communication tool, even surpassing the telephone.

RISKS

� Unwanted sexual solicitation

� Aggressive solicitation to meet, creating

the potential for abuse, harassment or violence

� Exposure to sexually inappropriate and

explicit messages

� Frauds and scams

� Harassment and cyber bullying

CHAT ROOM BEHAVIOUR

REMEMBER

� Anything you say may be accessed by others. You are creating a permanent record.

� People are not always who they say they

are.

� It is easy to be misled into meeting someone you have met online or doing things you would not ordinarily do.

� It is easy to reveal more than you should.

Chat rooms are cruising grounds for predators.

WHAT IS CYBER BULLYING?

� Being cruel to others by sending or posting harmful material using technology.

� When you use technology to facilitate the

deliberate and repeated harassment or threat to an individual or group in attempt to gain power and control over them.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU

MEET A CYBER BULLY?

� Don’t reply to abusive messages or postings.

� Save copies of the messages, and/or

photos for the police, the internet service provider or the cell phone company. This material may be required in order to trace the cyber bully.

� If you receive a rude image or text about

someone else, do not forward it. You could be assisting a bully or breaking the law.

You have the right NOT to be harassed and bullied online. Make sure you tell someone.

WEBCAMS

� Most webcam transmissions give clues to your identity, like showing things on a desk, or personal photos that make you vulnerable.

� Streamed live video from a webcam can

be uploaded, copied, and may never go away.

� Some kinds of “camming” are illegal.

� Any filming and recording of sexual acts

between persons under the age of 18 years of age could be child pornography by definition of the law. If these videos were streamed, uploaded or even recorded to a CD, they would constitute the making or distributing of child pornography.

BLOGS A blog is a journal that is available online. It can be created, updated and maintained by any person using simple software. Blogs are not private.

� Do not post information on your personal profile that you wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing with a stranger.

� Do not share personal telephone numbers,

addresses, last names, school names or city names in your blog.

� Too much information can lead to you.

Be anonymous!

� Don’t post offensive or illegal material. You could be criminally or civilly liable for the content on your blog.

“ I met this great guy online, but he turned out to be a cat!”