-=> Note: Forwarded (from: netmail) by Terry Liberty-Parker using timEd. Originally from Matthew Gaylor (1:382/87.0) to terry liberty-parker. Original dated: May 01 '96, 13:50 e-Id: <v0213050eadad22805e60@[198.4.94.223]> From: freematt@coil.com (Matthew Gaylor) From: angels@wavenet.com (CyberAngels Director : Colin Gabriel Hatcher) Subject: CYBERANGELS Thanks for your interest in our group. We apologize for any delay in answering your enquiry. Our service is not automated, and we have a huge quantity of enquiries to deal with. Briefing papers about our work are still in preparation. Keep in touch with us till then. If you have any personal problems on the Internet, or if you find an interesting and relevant website, then write and tell us. We will shortly be opening a new WWW site, and we will send a release when that is ready. Till then, take care, and keep your eyes open while you are cruising! Let us know if you find any material or activity that you think should be investigated! Let us know also if you find any interesting websites that share our mission! You are now on our rmailing list! Stand by for regular information and alerts for CyberAngels missions. Gabriel ************************************************************** THE INTERNET IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD - LET'S LOOK AFTER IT! CYBERANGELS - WHO ARE WE? We are an all-volunteer Internet safety patrol and monitoring project started in June 1995 by senior members of the world famous crime prevention organization The International Alliance of Guardian Angels. CyberAngels membership currently numbers more than 1000 users worldwide in15 countries, who share a common mission - to be a Cyberspace Neighborhood Watch and to fight Internet crime. Our numbers are growing daily. We are working to make the Internet a safer and more enjoyable place to work and play, by being role models for self-regulation and responsibility. We are dedicated: TO FIGHT CRIME ON THE INTERNET in particular criminal activity where there are clear personal victims and/or at-risk users. TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM ONLINE CRIMINAL ABUSE by fighting against the trade in child pornography and by working to deter sexual predators online. TO GIVE SUPPORT, ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO INTERNET VICTIMS OF HATE MAIL, HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL ABUSE ONLINE by referring them to professional assistance and by helping to guide them through the compaints and reporting processes. TO PROMOTE, PRESERVE AND PROTECT NETIQUETTE that is, the rules of polite conduct that govern our use of the Internet. We believe in courtesy and respect for others. We support Internet Service Providers who have clearly defined Terms of Service for the User, and who are prepared to enforce it. TO HELP TO PRESERVE INTERNET FREEDOM OF SPEECH by showing Governments that the Internet Community is prepared to take both responsibililty and actions to preserve the personal safety of all its members, and particularly its children. HOW DO WE FIGHT CRIME ON THE INTERNET? Crime on the Internet is a tiny percentage of everything that is there. But it is real and it is claiming victims with increasing regularity. We believe that we the Net Community should take the responsibility for the problem - after all it is our fellow users who are the criminals - and also that we should assume the responsibility for crime prevention measures. CyberAngels don't just talk about it. WE ACT. EDUCATION / ADVICE / CYBERSTREETSMARTS The Internet to us is like a vast city: public and private areas, kids and adult areas, safe areas and crime areas. To travel it safely you need some CyberStreetsmarts. One of our main methods of crime prevention on the Net is by educating users about the possible problems they may encounter, and how to avoid them Education means educating parents realistically about the Internet so that they areaware of the dangers, but are not overreacting. It's important that parents and kids cooperate in this area. The Internet is such a wonderful learning environment that we wish to encourage kids to use it - but adults must take responsibility for making sure our kids do not wander into areas that are not appropriate. We act as an advisory service for any user with problems of personal safety and / or personal security on the Net. This advice ranges from how to deal with mailbombs, forged email, mailing list spams, virii, impersonation and other electronic sabotage and harassment methods, to information about how to deal with hate mail, sexual harassment, kids' safety online and unsolicited email. Many users do not know how to report abuse nor to whom they should report it. CyberAngels can usually help. SAFETY PATROLS CyberAngels volunteers run regular Safety Patrols on the Net. Safety Patrols on the Internet means cruising the electronic highways, keeping your eyes open for problems. The main areas we patrol are the Usenet (Newsgroups) and the live channels (IRC / Chat rooms etc). We read Newsgroups, especially the binaries groups on the Usenet, and if we find images of child pornography posted up there we refer those files to federal law enforcement authorities, eg US Customs Service. We also check out fraud schemes on the Usenet, and if necessary report them to the National Fraud Centre. We also keep track of Spam developments - who is mass mailing unsolicited mail and what they are offering. We travel the live channels of IRC / MUDS or the chat rooms in the big Providers, looking out for sexual predators searching for children, or pedophiles trading child pornography in the live talk areas. This is a major source of child pornography on the Net. If we find it we report it to Sysadmins and Federal authorities. We cruise the World Wide Web, checking sites to make sure child pornography is not being used to attract visitors, and checking that a site that says it is Kidsafe really is suitable for children. We visit and read websites and FTP sites of Racist and other Hate Organizations, keeping a check on their activities. There is a very close relationship between Racist material and Racist activities (eg Hate mail and harassment, violent threats and intimidation). We don't believe in the philosophy that "anything goes" on the Net. The Internet is a society and in societies where "anything goes" then crime and violence dominate, and the stronger consume the weaker. The Internet is a newly developing global nation - and we need Cyberspace law and law enforcement if users rights are to be protected. We believe in FREEDOM AND JUSTICE UNDER LAW. And although we recognize the problems of how National Laws can be applied to an International society, we believe that the first step is that Netizens CARE about Cybercrime and the victims of Cybercrime. YOU CAN HELP US! WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! The Internet Community is huge - a worldwide network of around 40 million people, 11 million Websites, 3500 Service Providers - and it's growing every day. The more volunteers we have, the more effective we can be. And by giving a little of your time to looking after the welfare of the Net, you can make a real difference! Anyone can be a CyberAngel. The only requirement is that you commit a minimum of 2 hours per week to the project. No previous experience or special skills are necessary, .although a computer and an Internet account would be useful! :) Being a CyberAngel involves no risk or danger. You are volunteering only to be eyes watching the Net, looking out for the welfare of others. CAN YOU HELP US? You may be able to help us in other ways - we are a Division of Guardian Angels and we are a 501 (C)(3) Non-profit organization. Our membership is voluntary and we are in desperate need of more resources. All of your donations are tax-deductible. You can help us by donating money, computers, Internet access accounts, design skills, or websites. Alternatively you may like to consider sponsoring our work on the Internet. Contact us for details. * Cyberangels support SAFESURF in their campaign for child safe areas on the Net * Cyberangels support WEBSAFE and their work with kids, teens and parents. * Cyberangels support the BLUE RIBBON Freedom of Speech campaign * Cyberangels support PICS, other rating systems and screening software *Cyberangels support CYBERSPACE LAW AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. CYBERSPACE NEEDS CYBERANGELS! ********************************************************* Colin Gabriel Hatcher - CyberAngels Director angels@wavenet.com "Freedom and justice, under law" ********************************************************* **************************************************************************** Subscribe to Freematt's Alerts: Pro-Individual Rights Issues Send a blank message to: freematt@coil.com with the words subscribe FA on the subject line. List is private and moderated (7-20 messages per week) Matthew Gaylor,1933 E. Dublin-Granville Rd.,#176, Columbus, OH 43229 **************************************************************************** ___ -- |Fidonet: Terry Liberty-Parker 1:382/804 |Internet: Terry.Liberty-Parker@804.ima.infomail.com | | Standard disclaimer: The views of this user are strictly their own.