Chat Lines Continue To Pose Threat To Teens

[george]

Chat lines continue to pose threat to teens

BANGKOK: -- Although this was not the first time that a girl had been lured into premature sex via a telephone chat line, the lines are still widely available to teenagers and the authorities don’t seem to be interested in taking action.

When the parents of a missing girl recently asked a high school in Bangkok to help to find their daughter, police later discovered that the girl had been with a boy she had met on a chat line.

One of the teachers helping with the girl’s case said the girl had reported that her female schoolmates had introduced her to the line called “Chat Sanook” where she met a group of boys who lured her into having sex.

These kinds of chat lines have been made even more accessible since the numbers were changed, replacing the previous 1900 numbers where calls are charged at Bt9 a minute, with 02 numbers charged at the local rate. Chat Sanook with its 02 prefix became an instant hit with students.

Callers are asked to briefly introduce themselves and are then invited to listen to the others’ introductions to choose a match.

Those who are not paying-members are only allowed five minutes to chat, so participants often exchange mobile phone numbers within that time in order to continue the conversation.

In a trial conducted by The Nation, a number of participants used their introductions to invite others to talk about sex.

“In this recent case, the first girl went to meet a boy she had chatted with and ended up having sex with him. She then invited her schoolfriend to try the line who introduced herself to the boy who also brought his friends along.

“It is very worrying,” the teacher said.

Police said that they could not press charges in this case as the girls had consented to sex.

Police Maj-General Khamronwit Thoopkrajang, commander of the Division for Suppression of Crimes Against Children, Juveniles and Women, said it was difficult for the police to take action against chat-line providers until it can be proved that the lines have been set up with a sexual objective in mind.

He said in the case of chat-line operators who obviously offer phone-sex services – most of which have 1900 numbers - the police always press charges.

“Chat Sanook’s operator can claim that it only offers youths a place to chat and has no responsibility for what happens after they exchange phone-numbers,” he said. “And in this case, police don’t have the power to do anything.”

A source from TOT Public Company Ltd, which provides the number, said telephone numbers with the prefix 02 are normally only issued for home or company use. Chat lines are usually required to formally apply for a number with a 1900 prefix so that the TOT is able to monitor the line.

“In this case, it might be that the operator applied for a general home number and then used it for the chat line service,” she said. “But it is beyond the TOT’s authority now and it should be the National Telecom Commission who deals with the case.”

Calls to 1900 numbers are normally charged at Bt9 per minute which the operators receive a share of, while 02 numbers are charged at Bt3 per call which goes directly to TOT.

Chat Sanook’s income comes from the users’ memberships, which can be applied for on a website and paid for via mobile phone or prepaid True Corporation cards sold at 7-Eleven stores.

Senator Montri Sintawichai, chairman of the Child Protection Foundation, said there have been a number of cases where girls have been deceived and sexually assaulted or raped by men they have met through chat lines, but the cases are too quickly forgotten.

He said that chat-line businesses are aimed at making money out of vulnerable teenagers and the operators lure teenagers into calling the lines then leave them open to all kinds of risks.

He said that as well as encouraging young people to deceive their parents, the lines also offer a channel for potential abusers to approach young people.

“We have to ask the TOT why it allowed this phone number to be used for this kind of business. Maybe they prioritise profit over the social ramifications,” said Montri.

--The Nation 2006-02-17

[astral]

I wonder why parents don't take responsibility?

They are the ones who should warn the children.

We cannot expect the government to play Nanny all the time!!

[sierra01]

I wonder why parents don't take responsibility?

They are the ones who should warn the children.

We cannot expect the government to play Nanny all the time!!

The Thai are not very good at that.