BECKLEY, WV (WOAY)- “I would consider it an epidemic all over the country.” “They are approximately 500,000 predators online, 24 seven, 365 days a year.”
In the age of technology, predators have more access to our children than ever before. Senate Bill 466 creates a solution to that by having a mandatory technology education program for students in the 3rd to 12th grades.
“Educating the children is paramount and protecting them online just so they know that the dangers, the applications and stuff that they’re using themselves,” said Sergeant Jillian Yeager, WVSP Crimes Against Children Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. “Educating parents and guardians and educators is also important so that they know the top apps and the trends that are happening and what kind of exploitation is occurring online also.”
West Virginia is the first state to pass this law, and according to Safe Surfin’, other states are following. The Safe Surfin’ Foundation is an organization dedicated to teaching internet safety to protect children from sexploitation. They’ve partnered with the West Virginia Department of Education and the technology company Skyll to create an app designed for this.
Deputy is an AI conversational-based app designed to help kids report an internet crime or get advice on online safety. The AI will ask students questions and determine if it needs to submit a report to a task force over a tip line.
“The [AI] deputies are trained to get [the students] to explain exactly what’s going on,” explained Graeme Page, CEO and Co-founder of Skyll.
This app will be available to all students in 3rd to 12th grade in WV public schools. Parents can also opt in to get reports and education resources in the app.
“The only way to fight technology is with technology,” said Page.
If you’re being exploited, suspect child exploitation, or know someone being exploited, there are multiple ways to report it.
You can contact your local police department or the state police. If you do call, ask to speak with someone in the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
You can visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s cyber tipline at cybertipline.org or 1-800-the-lost. You can also visit safesurfin.org for information and resources if you want to learn more about the matter.
