Kids should know risks of sharing immoral clips

By Fahad Al Ghadani — MUSCAT: Feb. 22 - With the Public Prosecution warning against sharing of immoral clips and photographs, voices were raised in social media on the need to raise awareness among students about the legal consequences of publishing and distributing pornographic materials online. “The situation is going out of control,” said a teacher of a school based in Muscat, adding that it is “rare these days to see a student without a mobile phone in hand or pocket”. “They are capturing everything on the video and maybe sharing dangerous clips with friends,” said the teacher who preferred anonymity. While agreeing that a mobile phone was necessary for schoolchildren, he felt “students need to know the consequences of using mobiles in such a manner”. He suggested an awareness campaign for students and parents to avoid students from being subjected to legal questioning. Saif al Wishahi, a parent based in Shinas, said it is tough to control kids in such matters. “I check my kid’s mobile content from time to time, but I’m still not 100 per cent sure if that is enough,” he said. “I can keep a watch on him at home, but at school, I am not sure what can happen in the six hours he spends there,” said a worried Al Wishahi. He said an awareness programme was highly important. “It is not about creating fear in the children, but about making them use mobile phones for better things such as reading, searching useful information or studying,” said Al Wishahi. He said he and many others were ready to volunteer to help the children. Last year, three students were arrested after they were involved in an obscene clip in a private school in Muscat Governorate. The video clip, which showed two teenage boys in an immoral act, had gone viral. Last year, three teenagers were fined RO 1,000 and sentenced to one year in prison for their involvement in an obscene clip. In 2015, a college student was sentenced to one month in jail and fined RO 2,000 for posting pictures of his girlfriend on the social media. According to the Public Prosecution, the publishing and distribution of pornographic materials online is punishable with a one-year jail term and a fine of RO 1,000. Under Oman Cyber Law, using technology to produce, procure, distribute, transmit, sell, purchase or import pornographic materials are punishable with imprisonment for a period not less than one month and not exceeding one year. The fine is not less than RO 100 and not more than RO 1, 000. If pornography is committed by a juvenile (less than 18 years), then he will be imprisoned for a period not less than one year and not more than three years. He could be fined not less than RO 1,000 and not more than RO 5,000.