THE growth in Information Communication Technology (ICT), which has led to rapid industrial upscale, has its downside, impacting negatively on the young generation.
While ICT is an effective tool for growth in critical sectors of the economy, it has adulterated the moral fibre of society particularly among children who have access to internet using various gadgets that are easily accessible.
It is sad that children, some as young as nine years, have been exposed to pornography and other profane material accessed from various sites on the internet.
This is the more reason why Zambia Police Service gender office deputy national coordinator Doreen Mazuba-Malambo has called for collective effort in combating child pornography and other vices that are perpetrated through the internet and other platforms.
Ms Malambo made her strong presentation to delegates in Livingstone yesterday at the just-ended Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) Child Online Protection (COP) seminar.
It has been difficult to combat child pornography in an environment with greater access to modern ICT, which provides many platforms for interaction.
Children are more versatile and quickly adapt to modern technology, while predatory adults are always looking for new ways of gaining access to children.
According to ECPAT International, a global network of organisations working to eliminate child prostitution, pornography and trafficking of children, there are about 1.8 million children exploited in prostitution or pornography worldwide.
ECPAT adds that nearly 80 per cent of trafficking worldwide is for sexual exploitation, with more than 20 per cent of the victims being children. This is perpetrated through the use of internet.
Of great concern in Zambia, is child pornography which, if not checked, can become overwhelming with the rise in the use of internet particularly on mobile phones.
It is difficult for parents or teachers in learning institutions to monitor what material the children are handling because of greater access to social networks, internet connections on computers and mobile phones, while others are exposed to video streaming.
Of late, Zambia has recorded more cases of cyber crime, which include production of pornographic images through electronic devices.
As Ms Malambo observed, it has been difficult in Zambia to fight child pornography because of weak legislation.
Other challenges included inadequate funding to organisations mandated to fight the vice as well as lack of knowledge.
Law enforcement agencies and service providers should work together in campaigns against child pornography and other vices through the media and in learning institutions. Sufficient and well-packaged information is important in this task.
While internet provides resourceful sites for children to gain academic knowledge, it should somehow be restricted so that the young do not access obscene and other scurrilous material.
Parents should take interest and monitor some of the activities their children are engaged in as they surf the internet. This may not be easy though.
The church should take a leading role in inculcating a sense of responsibility and moral conduct not only among the children but also among all age groups in society.
Security agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Commission the Intellectual Property Unit at Zambia police and other organisations should network and rid the country of obscene materials disguised in magazines, photos, sculpture, drawing, cartoon, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video, and video games.
Zambians must rise up and protect the children from oral decay.  OPINION