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Facebook and CEOP join forces to deliver internet safety to young internet users

Young Facebook users across the UK are the focus of a new initiative being launched today Monday 12th July by the UK’s national centre for child protection – the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre and Facebook.

For the first time all Facebook users in the UK –especially those aged between 13 – 18 years – can have direct access to CEOP’s advice and reporting centre – ClickCEOP – from their homepage giving them the very latest help on online safety as well as a dedicated facility for reporting instances of suspected grooming or inappropriate sexual behaviour.

Access to the ClickCEOP button will be provided via an application that users can add or bookmark so that it appears on their homepage as not only a constant source of help and reassurance for them but also as a strong visual signal to their friends, family and others that they are in control online.

The application will be backed by a new CEOP page that, when ‘liked’, will look to engage with young people to help raise the profile of online safety.  The move is also being supported by extensive wide spread advertising on Facebook that will encourage take up of the application.  This will include an automatic advert-message appearing on every homepage of users aged between 13-18 years inviting them to add the application.

The initiative is the result of a new collaboration between CEOP and Facebook that combines Facebook expertise in technology and connecting people and organisations on their service with CEOP’s knowledge of internet safety and security as well as its role as the national centre for child protection.

Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre said: 

Our dialogue with Facebook about adopting the ClickCEOP button is well documented – today however is a good day for child protection.  By adding this application, Facebook users will have direct access to all the services that sit behind our ClickCEOP button which should provide reassurance to every parent with teenagers on the site.

“We know from speaking to offenders that a visible deterrent could protect young people online. We urge all Facebook users to add the app and bookmark it so that others can see that they’re in control online."

Joanna Shields, Facebook’s Vice President for EMEA said: 

Nothing is more important than the safety of our users, which is why we have invested so much in making Facebook one of the safest places on the internet. There is no single silver bullet to making the Internet safer but by joining forces with CEOP we have developed a comprehensive solution which marries our expertise in technology with CEOP’s expertise in online safety. 

“Together we have developed a new way of helping young people stays safe online and backed this with an awareness campaign to publicise it to young users. It is only through the constant and concerted effort of the industry, police, parents and young people themselves that we can all keep safe online – whether on Facebook or elsewhere.”

CEOP’s new Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/clickceop) will contain polls, news alerts and status updates. The page will look at topics that teenagers care about, such as celebrities, music and exams, and will link these subjects to questions about online safety. The CEOP page will also give users the option to add the new ClickCEOP application.

James Brokenshire, MP, Minister for Crime Prevention said:

“I am pleased that Facebook and CEOP have joined forces so that more children can report suspicious behaviour and gain access to the help, advice and support they need. I strongly urge parents to encourage their children to download this application now.

“It’s a sad fact that we are now seeing more cases where sex offenders are using social networking sites to conceal their identities in order to contact children.

“While this solution provides real help it’s also vital that government continue to work with industry, police, and parents to educate children about the dangers they may face online.”

For more information

CEOP press office on 0870 000 3434

Facebook press team on 0207 260 2700