Joop Ave discourages telephone chat-lines<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government discouraged yesterday the use of
\ntelephone chat-line services, saying many had been exploited as a
\nmedium for sexually related activity.<\/p>\n
Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave
\ndisparaged the existence of the services saying that they had
\ntaken advantage of the telecommunications infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\"The government has built telephone, TV and satellite
\n(infrastructure) for the progress of the nation, but
\nunfortunately bandits have used it for destructive purposes,\"
\nJoop said.<\/p>\n
\"Personally I've never used this party-line thing, but a staff
\nmember of mine has studied it,\" he said, adding that \"there are a
\nfew party-lines which are not obscene\".<\/p>\n
Joop was responding to media scrutiny over the popularity of
\nchat-lines in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Parents have complained of skyrocketing bills as their
\nchildren dial the numbers to entertain themselves, while
\nobservers question the moral impact of the chat-lines.<\/p>\n
Joop expressed his gratitude at the media's role in bringing
\nthe issue to public attention.<\/p>\n
He said the government would do its best to protect its
\ncitizens from any exploitation, but acknowledged it was very
\ndifficult to curb such services because the organizers have
\noperated within legal boundaries.<\/p>\n
It depends more on the users whether they use their telephone
\nfacilities for positive or negative purposes, Joop said.<\/p>\n
\"I have been asked what a minister can do in this matter -- I
\nam studying it... The government cannot act arbitrarily,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"But clearly it is felt that if these activities corrupt the
\nethics and morals of the nation, then the government has the
\nright to take action,\" he added.<\/p>\n
\"I hope we declare war on it,\" Joop said. (prb)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/joop-ave-discourages-telephone-chat-lines-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }