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England get Facebook warning over illegal betting from cricket corruption squad

July 24, 2011 by  
Filed under Lingerie Events

By
Peter Hayter

Last updated at 12:20 AM on 24th July 2011

England paceman Jimmy Anderson revealed that players have been warned by the ICC of the danger of internet ‘grooming’ by illegal bookmakers via Facebook and other social networking sites.

The threat of corruption posed by illegal betting networks based largely in India and exposed by ICC
bans on Pakistan’s Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammed Amir, was raised again last week by former Australian captain Steve Waugh.

He claimed that 56 international players had reported approaches from bookmakers in the past year.

Caught in the web: James Anderson (left) said England's cricketers have been warned about Facebook

Caught in the web: James Anderson (left) said England’s cricketers have been warned about Facebook

Anderson underlined the extent of the threat by revealing the advice given to international players by
the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) regarding approaches from bookmakers in person or using social networking sites.

Anderson said: ‘We are regularly briefed by the ICC, told what to look out for and what constitutes
an approach.

‘There are strict ICC regulations about what to do if you are approached and we are all aware that
it’s an offence if you don’t inform the right people if it does happen.

‘They have been telling us what to look out for and that players have, in the past, been approached
by people through Facebook.

In the dock: Mohammad Amir (left), Salman Butt (right) and Mohammad Asif (behind) were all banned

In the dock: Mohammad Amir (left), Salman Butt (right) and Mohammad Asif (behind) were all banned

‘What happens is that people approach players on the net asking to be friends, things progress from there over a period of time and the player is trapped.

‘I have not come across anything like that personally but we’ve been told that players have been approached in this way in the past.’

Anderson believes that despite the action against the Pakistan players, who received long bans, world cricket must continue to be vigilant.

He added: ‘When the ACSU people speak to us and tell us how big the underground betting is in India and elsewhere, it does make you realise what is actually happening out there.

Claim: Steve Waugh said 56 international players had reported illegal approaches in the last year

Claim: Steve Waugh said 56 international players had reported illegal approaches in the last year

‘The claims over what is alleged to have happened at Lord’s last year came as a complete shock.

‘Although you hear about things that may have happened elsewhere, you never think it’s going to go on in a game that you play in.

‘It was surreal at the time and it is still hard to believe now.’

An ECB spokesman confirmed: ‘The ACSU provides players with ongoing briefings, including guidance in relation to social networking.’

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Zuckerberg wants Facebook access for children under 13, but is it a good idea? – KSL

July 24, 2011 by  
Filed under Lingerie Events

In an online community that thrives on verbal interaction, language becomes another hurdle to deal with. Hate speech and other vicious attacks can be hurdled in this unmoderated environment without ease. Swear words are not censored. Even the traditional form of automatically replacing part of the word with asterisks is ignored.

At the moment, gaining access to Facebook by someone under the age of 13 can be easily accomplished with some minimal mathematic abilities. Simply calculate a date that is at least 13 years earlier than today’s date and you have managed to hoodwink a very complex network of computer systems.

Unable to think on their own, these computers have no way of performing an independent verification of the registrant’s age. This is an unfortunate flaw that is unlikely to change anytime in the near future. Nobody would stand for the hassle of sending their birth certificate to Facebook’s Palo Alto headquarters for verification, even if it did mean a golden ticket into the wonderful world of social networking.

Engage children in discussions about the dangers of social networking. Social networking fosters a world where nothing is ever as it seems. Whether it is an innocuous profile that sports a photo taken decades ago before you put on those 50 pounds, or an entire new persona, the ease with which deception flourishes in these environments underscores the need for diligence.

It is this level of caution that an immature child would unlikely be able to discern when asked for their phone number, for example, or address. Even if taught properly, someone under the age of 13 may not realize that seemingly immaterial pieces of information could be damaging if released. While taught better than to directly reveal an address, a child may not understand that revealing a parent’s name could quickly lead to a match in a telephone book.

Ultimately, this is a fight that will occur on Capitol Hill between lobbyists and legislators. A parallel battle is currently raging within the walls of homes across America. Establish firm policies regarding what boundaries you expect your children to abide by. Ensure that you monitor their behavior closely and hold them responsible for their actions.


Joseph Irvine is a self-employed computer engineer in Madison, Ala. A graduate of Utah State University, he hopes to pursue a degree in law at BYU in the near future.

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