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Facebook ‘needs panic buttons for children’
18 Nov 2009A senior police officer has criticised Facebook and MySpace for not having panic buttons to protect children from online bullying or abuse.
Jim Gamble, head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, said there was “no legitimate reason” for the social networking sites to refuse the button which enables users to report abuse, bullying and illegal activity to the Ceop Centre in London. Bebo already has the button.
Encouraging the sites to use the free service, Mr Gamble said: “There is a responsibility, a duty of care, to the young and vulnerable.” A Facebook spokesman said it had invested in a “robust reporting system” and worked with police.
Reader views (4)
There is a panic button: Its called turning off the computer.
No one forces these kids onto facebook, myspace etc.
An investigation into the number false reports is warranted. Its very easy to cry wolf and turn in someone you don't like.
But real results never stop liberals. They pride themselves on symbolic actions.
- Trunk, US, 18/11/2009 15:29
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Are you kidding me, how on earth could this be implemented? How about the parents monitoring their childrens internet activity and talking with them; to make sure they are not victims of any internet crime?
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 18/11/2009 14:10
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How about children using the internet under the supervision of their parents instead.
- Gavin, London, England, 18/11/2009 09:54
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Mr Gamble said: “There is a responsibility, a duty of care, to the young and vulnerable"
Oh the irony of his comment, since when were the police bothered about the safety of people, that stopped a few years ago.
- P Staker, London, 18/11/2009 09:43
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