DHS, Major Partners Launch Campaign to Fight Online Child Exploitation
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched a major campaign to raise awareness about online child sex exploitation. DHS is partnering with some of the world’s largest tech companies, sports organizations, and law enforcement to help spread the word and educate the public about the dangers.
The campaign is called “Know2Protect, Together We Can Stop Online Child Exploitation” and will be overseen by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The goal is to educate and empower young people, parents, and trusted adults on ways to prevent and combat abuse, both on and offline, explain how to report incidents of these crimes, and offer support and resources for victims and survivors.
“The need to keep our children safe online requires all of us to work together, as partners. That is what our Know2Protect campaign is all about,” said DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a news conference announcing the initiative.
Tech Partners
The program is a partnership between the public and private sectors and includes some of the biggest technology companies in the world.
· Snapchat owner Snap Inc. is Know2Protect’s first official partner. It’s providing ad credits on Snapchat and conducting research to measure Snapchat user awareness about sexual-related online risks.
· Google is donating ad credits.
· Facebook and Instagram parent Meta will raise awareness on its platforms and direct people to resources that will help.
· Roblox will display in-game advertisements for the campaign and will work to develop in-game experiences.
· Intel will hold awareness trainings.
Still technology executives admit that while they are taking precautions, parental involvement is essential.
"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," said Meta's Global Head of Safety Antigone Davis to CBS.
As part of the program, DHS released resources for parents including advice on password protections, privacy settings, and location services, as well as an internet safety checklist.
Sports Partners
Various major sports leagues have committed to showing Know2Protect advertisements at events including the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Hockey League (NHL), NASCAR, Major League Soccer (MLS), and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
MLB and MLS will highlight Know2Protect at their upcoming all-star games, while the NFL will run public service announcements on its various media platforms.
Other partners include the Boy Scouts of America and the National Police Athletic League.
Law Enforcement Partners
Law enforcement partners include the National Fusion Center Association (NFCA), International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), and Small & Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association (SRLEEA).
“(SRLEEA) wholeheartedly endorses the DHS's Know2Protectcampaign, highlighting its vital role in smaller, rural, and tribal communities. These areas often encounter increased risks due to scarce resources, and this initiative is crucial for providing necessary awareness and tools to combat online child exploitation,” said SRLEEA Human Trafficking Committee Chair Sheriff Kim Stewart.
Know2Protect will highlight all of DHS’s efforts to fight child exploitation. That includes efforts by HSI as the principal investigative arm of DHS, and the steward of Know2Protect and Project iGuardian, Know2Protect’s educational program.
Also featured are efforts by the U.S. Secret Service such as its Childhood Smart Program, and efforts by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), featuring its SchoolSafety.gov website.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported over 36 million suspected cases of child sexual exploitation in the previous year, a 12 percent increase from the prior year.
"Prevention is just the first line, but we also have to make sure that if something occurs, we remediate," said Secretary Mayorkas. "Those children come forward, the parents come forward, and we can address it, not only to help the victim, but also to hold the perpetrators accountable."