I came across the Stop Internet Predators campaign several weeks back while searching the web and was excited to see another advocacy group working to promote Internet Safety. I contacted Stop Internet Predators and several weeks later, I was signed on as a coalition partner!

At PC Pandora, our parental control and monitoring software provides a way for parents to see exactly what their children are doing on the Internet. Starting with sequential snapshots of everything that happens on screen, the software allows you as a parent to see everything your child does online – who they are talking to (Internet predators?), what websites they are going to, if they are a victim or instigator of cyberbullying, etc. Imagine being able to play back everything that your child does on the PC with a DVR – basically what the screenshots will do for you.

PC Pandora also gives you detailed reports in text-based files (i.e. emails, IM chats, weblogs, peer-2-peer activity, keystrokes, etc.), has web filters and program blocks, and even allows parents to receive email updates of those text-based files when they are not at home. This is invaluable for any working parent who doesn’t want to let their guard down just because they have to go to work.

But as wonderful and helpful as our software is, there are some online technologies that many parents are unaware of and simply can’t be monitored, like Google’s Street View. When photos of children are uploaded onto the web without parents’ knowledge or consent this becomes extremely troublesome. Parents are now forced to go onto Google Street View to check if their child may have been captured in a photo. If so, then the burden is on the parents to opt-out and ask Google to remove the photo.

I believe the work that Stop Internet Predators is doing in educating communities about new and emerging online technologies is admirable. I truthfully wish more organizations would walk the walk, as Stop Internet Predators does, instead of just talking the talk. PC Pandora is glad to be a part of this effort and we anxiously look forward to our continued work together in the future.

Stop Internet Predators has teamed up with McGruff Safe Kids TID for two events this week: McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog will head to Pittsburgh, PA for ‘Light Up the Night’ on Friday, November 21st and also make an appearance at the Gasparilla Film Festival Children’s Day this Sunday, November 23rd in Tampa, Florida.

Stop Internet Predators will be on hand to provide information to parents about keeping their kids safe online. For instance, parents should know that some sexual predators gradually seduce their targets by paying lots of attention to them, showering them with affection, and maybe even buying them gifts. Sexual predators are often willing to devote considerable amounts of time, money, and energy into this process. They listen to and empathize with their targets. They know the latest music and trends, and what hobbies kids like. Eventually, these individuals use this information to attempt to gradually lower children’s inhibitions and slowly introduce sexual context and content into their conversations. For more tips on how to spot a sexual predator online, visit our website.

In the meantime, if you’d like to get your child a FREE safety ID kit, or have them pose for a photo with McGruff, visit us at the Gasparilla Film Festival Children’s Day in Old Hyde Park from 2pm – 6pm Sunday.

Before heading home for Thanksgiving, I’m stopping in Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina to speak to the Carolina chapter of the High Technology Crime Investigation Association. These meetings allow for discussion between law enforcement and others in the field of Internet crimes about what Internet dangers are facing our communities and what can be done to protect families from these crimes.

I’m pleased to announce that Stop Internet Predators is teaming up with coalition partner, McGruff Safe Kids TID, next Friday, November 21st in Pittsburgh for the annual ‘Light Up the Night’ celebration. This is the official kick-off of the Holiday season in Pittsburgh, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it. ‘Light Up the Night’ is a time when local stores and shops stay open late and literally turn on their lights to “light up the night” and raise awareness of sexual abuse and exploitation. Area city buildings participate too.

McGruff Safe Kids TID will be on hand to provide Stop Internet Predators sponsored ID kits for kids who attend, free of charge. Even McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog will stop by to take pictures with kids and their families. Stop Internet Predators will be on hand to talk to parents about safety precautions for their kids as they navigate the web.

If you’re in the Pittsburgh area next Friday evening from 5pm to 9pm, come by and say hello.

Stacie has invited me to comment on her newly launched blog! I am excited, and flattered, to be given this opportunity and show my support for the Stop Internet Predators campaign. I feel it is necessary to educate parents and communities on emerging online child safety issues and empower them to protect their children from these vile predators. Stop Internet Predators focus on Google’s “Street View” has shown me yet another potential misuse of new technologies. And many times, children are more aware of these technologies than parents/guardians. Stop Internet Predators is really leading the way with this new effort and has gained a tremendous amount of traction in the few months since the inception of this campaign.

During the time we spent working for Jessica’s Law in Maryland, our group was able to successfully bring reform amidst a less than cooperative Maryland Judiciary Committee. And our success made Maryland safer for children. I understand that child predators need to be stopped and providing them additional tools to potentially prey on children, is not the way to do this.

I am proud to be a partner of Stop Internet Predators and urge parents to sign the petition urging our community leaders to work with Goggle and place safeguards into “Street View” to protect our children’s safety and privacy.

Am at a conference in Miami this week where I’ve talked to governors, their staffs, and other community leaders and officials about online safety. They agree that new technologies need to be safeguarded and that parents need to educate themselves and their kids about online safety. Check back next week for more feedback from the meeting.

On another note, I came across a news article that highlights how some artists painted scenes on Pittsburgh’s Sampsonia Way to be captured when Google Street View photographers drove by. These artists were given advance notice of when Google would arrive. Pretty cool. But why aren’t parents given that same consideration so they can shield their kids from being photographed, and kept out of view when Street View drives by. Interesting.

Kudos to Craigslist, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the 43 state attorneys general for their swift action in reaching an agreement that will help reduce child exploitation through Craigslist. As some articles point out, Craigslist will require that anyone posting advertisements for erotic services provide a working phone number and pay a fee with a valid credit card, as well as deploy search technology initially developed to assist NCMEC and law enforcement agencies in identifying missing persons, children and victims of human trafficking. Law enforcement tells us such an agreement is overdue as more crimes against children are being committed through the facilitation of Craigslist then any officer typically sees patrolling our neighborhood streets. Now let’s hope other Internet sites will follow their lead to safeguard children online.

The Stop Internet Predators organization is a prime example of what is needed in each of our communities. An organization that clearly understands the on-going problem with child predators and takes action to address the matter. I was able to attend the summit in Tampa and was impressed with the collective efforts put forth by each private and governmental agency invited. Each organization was just as concerned with the potential threat of Google “Street View” as I was.

As a Child Shield, USA affiliate I have explained to parents the importance of talking to their kids about predators and what they should to do to prevent their child from become missing. But, what is surprising to most parents is the “twisted” thinking of child predators. Not only am I a Child Shield affiliate, but I’m a police officer of 17 years. I know firsthand that child predators are cunning and patient; they plan and wait to attack. Google “Street View” is a great tool for most of us, either looking for a new place to shop or eat. But, in the hands of a predator it’s simply another tool to plan their attack.

I just returned from Pittsburgh where I discussed the importance of Internet safety to the Allegheny County Victim Assistance Policy Board.  It’s clear that domestic violence and child sexual assault share commonalities:  both crimes are two of the most under reported crimes in America and both crimes tend to increase and become more violent over time.   

To keep your children from becoming victims of crime, check out our recommended safety tips at www.StopInternetPredators.org. 

On another note, I read that Washington, DC has been recently uploaded on “Street View.”  Pretty interesting to see your own home on a map.  But remember, as with all new technologies, dangers can also exist.  Predators are using Craigslist to lure underage kids to meet.  In Manchester, NH, for instance, local police tell me that child prostitution is commonly offered through the site.  Predators have also used MySpace and Facebook to convince kids they’re talking to their peers, and not some pedophile living in a nearby city.  After all, in part thanks to the Internet, pedophiles have no jurisdictional or geographic borders when trying to reach our kids. 

If you’re a parent living in the DC area, I urge you to go onto “Street View” and check to see if your home is featured on the site.  Keep in mind, if your children happened to be playing in the front yard the day the camera crew drove down your street, they too will have been photographed and will be visible for anyone with an Internet connection to see.  If you see objectionable images, ask Google to have them removed.  Check out our Resources section of our website for step by step instructions on how to opt out.

Several months ago when I first heard about the Stop Internet Predators campaign, I was delighted to hear that another group was tackling the issue of Internet Safety. The Internet is a great tool but can also be misused by those with bad intentions, like child predators. As the President and founder of Ryan United, I have dedicated a vast amount of time and resources to bringing awareness to communities on how to protect children from sexual predators and ensuring that these predators are held accountable for their crimes. When my eight year old brother, Ryan was abducted and murdered in 1987 by a repeat offender, there were very few laws or programs in place that protected children or held offenders accountable for their crimes. My family and I have worked tirelessly over the years to change that. Through this process, some things have become glaringly obvious to us. For instance, if a child predator is released into a community and not properly managed, the likelihood that they will re-offend is very high. If there are not systems or programs in place to prevent them from re-offending, they will re-offend. It is vital to ensure that parents and communities understand what they can and must to do help protect their children and limit the resources that predators can access to continue or enhance their further predation.

New and emerging online technologies can be a wonderful addition to our lives yet it is imperative that we ensure they are properly safeguarded. Without the addition of these new technologies, we’d still be back in the Stone Age. Yet, I think it’s crucial that technologies, like Google’s “Street View” application, be safeguarded to protect our children’s privacy and safety. While “Street View” does allow us to view cities we’ve never been to or a new friend’s home they are planning to purchase, it is scary that pictures of our own children can be uploaded onto the web without parents knowledge or consent. As a parent of five children, I would not allow for my children’s photo to be on the Internet without my consent. And Google’s policy of opting out does not do enough. The burden should not be on us parents to go onto “Street View” and spend our time requesting that objectionable photos be removed.

My colleague and good friend, Stacie Rumenap, the Executive Director of Stop Child Predators has done an incredible job bringing this campaign to the forefront of many communities across the country.

I’ve heard how she has held press conferences and community meetings all to educate local organizations and members of the community about what they can do to help this effort. I am excited to be a part of this effort and look forward to the continued success of the Stop Internet Predators campaign.