Department of Homeland Security Launches Campaign to Combat Online Child Exploitation
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced a new public awareness campaign aimed at tackling online child exploitation and abuse, which he described as an "unimaginable horror."
In an interview on "CBS Mornings," Mayorkas emphasized the importance of raising awareness and educating both children and those around them on how to identify predators, protect themselves, and take action if they feel they are being targeted.
"Prevention is the first step, but we must also ensure that if an incident occurs, we take immediate action to address it," Mayorkas stated. "It is crucial for children and parents to report any instances so that we can not only support the victims but also hold the perpetrators accountable."
Among the agency's partners are tech giants including Google and Meta, which will provide users with information about the campaign on their platforms, along with sporting league partners like NASCAR and the NFL and other organizations like the Boy Scouts of America. DHS is also partnering with various law enforcement officials to continue to develop relevant training programs for law enforcement.
Meta's Global Head of Safety Antigone Davis said on "CBS Mornings" that while the tech company takes a number of measures to prevent the abuse online, they hope to work with parents and partners to help protect kids further.
"We're not trying to pass the buck to parents, but we all need to work together — whether that's DHS, whether it's us, whether it's parents to help protect kids online."
With the announcement, DHS also released resources for parents like an internet safety checklist and tips for protecting kids and teens online, including advice on password protections, privacy settings and location services.
The campaign, which marks the federal government's first prevention and awareness campaign to address online child sexual exploitation, comes amid a rise in reports of sexual exploitation of children in recent years. Last year, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children more than 36 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation, up 12% from the previous year. The Biden administration and lawmakers in Congress have sought to implement safeguards for children in an increasingly online world with rapid technological advancements.
Amid a heated Senate hearing in January, top executives from major social media platforms faced criticism from lawmakers for their perceived failure to adequately safeguard children from online sexual exploitation. Despite ongoing efforts by Congress, legislative attempts to regulate social media companies have largely faltered in recent years.
