For Release: Sept. 19, 2006
Contact: J. Tucker Martin or David Clementson
Email: jtmartin@oag.state.va.us or dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
McDonnell’s Youth Internet Safety Task Force Holds Meeting in Richmond
--Will Meet in Virginia Beach in October, Roanoke in November--
RICHMOND – Attorney General Bob McDonnell’s Youth Internet Safety Task Force held its second statewide meeting today. Today’s meeting was held at Deep Run High School, a suburban Richmond school located in Henrico County. The Task Force, comprised of leaders from prominent Internet companies, educators, parents, elected officials and law enforcement is meeting statewide to identify solutions to the growing problem of sexual offenders and other criminals using the Internet to target children and teenagers in the Commonwealth.
Among the notable individuals joining the Attorney General for today’s event were Dr. Billy K. Cannaday, Jr., Virginia’s Superintendent of Public Instruction; Representatives of AOL, Yahoo, and Myspace.com; Diane Florence, President of the Virginia PTA; Senator Janet Howell (D-Reston); Senator Mark Obenshain (D-Harrisonburg); Delegate Robert Hurt (R-Chatham); Delegate Bill Janis (R-Glen Allen); and John Brownlee, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia.
Speaking about today’s meeting Attorney General McDonnell noted, “We are holding these meetings across Virginia to ensure that all voices are heard in the critical effort to keep Virginia’s children safe online. This will require the input of all impacted parties, from students, parents and teachers, to law enforcement, elected officials, and industry leaders.”
McDonnell continued remarking, “This is an effort that is very personal to me as the father of five, and very serious to me as the Attorney General of the Commonwealth. In many ways the Internet has emerged as the “new frontier” for law enforcement. It is a tool of incredible promise and opportunity, but at the same time we have seen criminals use it to commit unspeakable acts of violence and depravity. We must discover and implement the solutions that will allow the Internet to remain an engine of economic prosperity and intellectual discovery while at the same time allowing our children to remain safe and secure as they use it in their daily lives.”
Attendees at today’s event first listened to the Attorney General as he described his goals for the Task Force, and recent developments in the area of online public safety. Next, the Task Force heard from several concerned citizens during the public comment period. Following this, attendees watched two important demonstrations. The first was an online chat demonstration by United States Postal Inspection Service Agent Glenn Aldridge, and Office of the Attorney General Criminal Investigator Les Lauziere. The two demonstrated how predators are able to use common Internet chat rooms to target and entice children online, and how law enforcement is working to stop these predators. Following that presentation, John Ryan and Jules Polonetsky of America Online/Time-Warner addressed the attendees on how industry officials work with law enforcement in investigations of online predators. These presentations were followed by two hour meetings of the Task Force working groups.
The Youth Internet Safety Task Force Task Force will hold two more statewide meetings. In October the Task Force will meet in Virginia Beach, and in November the Task Force will hold its final meeting in Roanoke. In December the Task Force will release its findings and proposals at a Richmond press conference.
Click here for more information on the Task Force and its membership.
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