THE "CRUSADE" AGAINST PREDATORS

As painful as it sounds, Florida is the fourth state in the US where the child pornography over the Internet accounts for the largest volume of cyber crime. According to Bill McCollum, Attorney General for the state of Florida: "The state authorities know very well the dangerous activities that on line child predators engage in and the amount of risks children face". Therefore, severe new laws have been implemented as October 2007 to protect our children against Internet predators and to prevent children sexual exploitation.

Thanks to these new laws these criminals will face maximum sentences extended three times more to fifteen years. These laws are not only against predators who solicit kids through the Internet but also for those who own child pornography.

According to the law, offenders must register instant message and e-mail with authorities. It will also enable social networking sites like Facebook.com and MySpace.com to share that information.

Also the Children's On line Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires websites to explain their privacy policies on the site and get parents' consent before collecting or using a child's personal information, such as a name, address, phone number, or social security number. The law also prohibits a site from requiring a child to provide more personal information than necessary to play a game or contest.

The office of the Florida Attorney General has initiated a "crusade" against predators which includes presentations in schools to address parents and students against cyber crime targeting kids. All you have to do is request it through the schools or any kid's foundation.

Here are some tips to help protect your child from these criminals:

- Many sites use "cookies," devices that track specific information about the user, such as name, email address, and shopping preferences. Cookies can be disabled. Ask your Internet service provider for more information.

- Talk to your kids and make them aware of the dangers behind the screen and advise them not to release any information on line.

- Do not overlook any unusual behavior on your kids. Most of the times these "hints" could lead you to discover a very serious threat to their safety. If you notice they seem nervous all the time, stressed or if they isolate themselves in their bedroom and every time you open their door they stop what they are doing, then it is time to find out what is going on! Don't wait! This is one of those things you do not delay for "tomorrow" because tomorrow could be too late...

- Suspect if they start receiving strange phone calls from "new" friends and they insist in taking these calls in private. Or if they start receiving "gifts" through the mail from people you have never heard before.

- Usually, kids get so reserved they even stop seeing their regular friends. They give all their attention to the predator on line because that's the way they control your kids. They don't like to share their prey with anyone!

- This is why keeping a good communication with your kids is so important! Knock at their door, talk to them, make a good habit to have supper all together around the table. Keep in touch with them during the day! However, do not make a phone call your "quality time" either, the face to face connection with your kids give them the strength and self-confidence they need and it let's them know how much you really care.

This is the time to protect our kids with awareness and prevention before is too late. Report child pornography and any wrong doings you are aware of, it is your duty as a parent, as a citizen and as a human being. Remember, by reporting a predator or anyone in possession of child pornography, you might be saving a kid's life, maybe your own child's!

Call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678 if you are aware of the transmission, use, or viewing of child pornography on line. Contact your local law enforcement agency or the FBI if your child has received child pornography via the Internet.