Inuvik (Jun 16/06) - Two teenaged girls are going through justice programs and school officials are warning of the dangers of posting information on the Internet after a video of a fight was uploaded to a personal website.

Samuel Hearne students have been visiting Internet sites that allow for uploading of personal content, like pictures and movies. Vice-principal Lorne Guy wants the youth to think about the kind of content they put on the World Wide Web for all to see. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Samuel Hearne secondary school vice principal Verne Guy said that as a result of the posting, connecting to personal webspaces like Bebo and Fotki have been banned in the school.

"Using those sites is something that the school disapproves of," said Guy.

Guy said the school has blocked such sites, and teachers monitor the students' computer usage.

He said he wants parents to be aware of the content being uploaded, because it may cause problems in the future.

"If it's illegal and on these sites, then the police can see it and charges may be laid," said Guy.

His comments come after a video of a teenaged girl beating up another girl at an Inuvik house party was posted online and viewed by the victim's parents.

The incident occurred June 2 and the video was posted the next day.

It was available on a personal website for about a week.

The victim's parents contacted RCMP, but no charges were laid, said RCMP Staff Sgt. Sid Gray.

"An agreement was made between the two parties, and it never made it to court."

He said three youth who were involved in instigating and recording the fight were sent to the community justice committee. According to a teen who saw the clip, it circulated quickly through the community.

"She got hit like 20 times," said J.D. Keogak, 16. "It was uploaded the next day, and it went around fast.

"It's a small town, word got out about it."

Keogak also uses the Bebo site, but only uploads from home.

"I put personal things about me, just information and stuff," he said.

"I just uploaded a movie of my family ski-dooing in the winter."

Keogak said youth need to use common sense when posting items on the Internet.

"You should just be aware of what you put on the net," he said.

Another student who wished to stay anonymous, said bad content gives youth a bad rap.

"It looks bad on all of us," he said. "All of my friends use the sites and almost everyone else I know."

NWT Privacy Commissioner Elaine Keenan-Bengts said the Internet is unregulated territory when it comes to privacy laws, but said that people could end up facing criminal charges, depending upon what's been uploaded.

"If you are inciting violence, or making porno, those are criminal offenses," said Keenan-Bengts. "Someone could sue for injured reputation."

Banks also said that not a whole lot can be done to prevent further incidents like the online fight clip.

"It's kids doing their thing on the Internet, not much can be done about that."

Vice-principal Verne Guy said the school fully endorses website building, but for positive reasons.

"These sites could be used for positive purposes, but for the most part I think students are using it for things they shouldn't be using it for," said Guy.