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whatever technology was current: modems before <strong>the</strong> Internet, and hard-wired term<strong>in</strong>alsbefore modems. The expansion of onl<strong>in</strong>e gam<strong>in</strong>g has reflected <strong>the</strong> overall expansion ofcomputer networks from small local networks <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Internet and <strong>the</strong> growth of Internetaccess itself. Onl<strong>in</strong>e games can range from simple text based games <strong>to</strong> games <strong>in</strong>corporat<strong>in</strong>gcomplex graphics and virtual worlds populated by many players simultaneously. Manyonl<strong>in</strong>e games have associated onl<strong>in</strong>e communities, mak<strong>in</strong>g onl<strong>in</strong>e games a form of socialactivity beyond s<strong>in</strong>gle player games.The ris<strong>in</strong>g popularity of Flash and Java led <strong>to</strong> an Internet revolution where websites couldutilise stream<strong>in</strong>g video, audio, and a whole new set of user <strong>in</strong>teractivity. When Microsoftbegan packag<strong>in</strong>g Flash as a pre-<strong>in</strong>stalled component of Internet Explorer, <strong>the</strong> Internetbegan <strong>to</strong> shift from a data/<strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion spectrum <strong>to</strong> also offer on-demand enterta<strong>in</strong>ment.This revolution paved <strong>the</strong> way for sites <strong>to</strong> offer games <strong>to</strong> web surfers. Most onl<strong>in</strong>e gamescharge a monthly fee <strong>to</strong> subscribe <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir services, although some offer an alternativeno monthly fee scheme. Many o<strong>the</strong>r sites relied on advertis<strong>in</strong>g revenues from on-sitesponsors, while o<strong>the</strong>rs, let people play for free while leav<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> players <strong>the</strong> option ofpay<strong>in</strong>g, unlock<strong>in</strong>g new content for <strong>the</strong> members.The challenge with onl<strong>in</strong>e gam<strong>in</strong>g is <strong>the</strong> virtual nature of <strong>the</strong> medium. What occurs onl<strong>in</strong>emay be occurr<strong>in</strong>g offl<strong>in</strong>e as well but <strong>the</strong>re appears <strong>to</strong> be only anecdotal evidence <strong>to</strong>support this. For example, law enforcement have reported that upon <strong>in</strong>filtrat<strong>in</strong>g child sexoffender networks <strong>the</strong>y have found references <strong>to</strong> discussions among <strong>the</strong> network and eventrad<strong>in</strong>g of virtual money <strong>to</strong> purchase virtual child pornography. 375Onl<strong>in</strong>e multiplayer <strong>in</strong>teractive games are a boom bus<strong>in</strong>ess, notably <strong>in</strong> North and Sou<strong>the</strong>astAsia, and draw <strong>in</strong> millions of people. This bus<strong>in</strong>ess, <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g both fantasy game-play<strong>in</strong>gand gambl<strong>in</strong>g sites, will be promoted and expanded greatly <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> near future. Handheldgames consoles with Internet capabilities will fur<strong>the</strong>r promote virtual <strong>in</strong>teractions. Onl<strong>in</strong>egames potentially provide a new platform where children and young people will be exposed<strong>to</strong> solicitations and potentially harmful <strong>in</strong>teractions with o<strong>the</strong>r people onl<strong>in</strong>e. Social impactassessments from a child protection perspective appear not <strong>to</strong> be available. 3765.7 Global ResponsesOne of <strong>the</strong> major obstacles <strong>to</strong> overcome <strong>in</strong> combat<strong>in</strong>g CSEC onl<strong>in</strong>e is <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternationaldimension of <strong>the</strong> problem. In January 1999, UNESCO sponsored <strong>the</strong> “<strong>Expert</strong> Meet<strong>in</strong>gon <strong>the</strong> Sexual Abuse of <strong>Child</strong>ren, <strong>Child</strong> Pornography and Pedophilia on <strong>the</strong> Internet”,<strong>in</strong> Paris. 377 This conference was designed <strong>to</strong> br<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r experts <strong>in</strong> all relevant fieldsPrivate Sec<strong>to</strong>r Accountability <strong>in</strong> Combat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Commercial Sexual Exploitation of <strong>Child</strong>ren|93

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