The Virtual Global Taskforce: A New Approach to Fighting Online Sexual Exploitation of Children

Ottawa - January 26, 2005 - Law enforcement agencies from across three continents launched a new web-based initiative today to deter and prevent individuals from exploiting children online. The new website - www.virtualglobaltaskforce.com - is part of the Virtual Global Taskforce international partnership between law enforcement agencies and industry in Canada, the UK, Australia, the US and Interpol. This alliance delivers crime prevention and crime reduction initiatives with the aim of making the Internet a safer place for children.

The website will act as a gateway to information on how to use the Internet safely, and will link to a range of support agencies that can advise and support victims of this type of abuse. It will also facilitate the ability of Internet users to report online sexual exploitation to appropriate law enforcement agencies in a number of different countries. The objective is for the website to become a "one stop shop" for all information about the protection of children online.

“This project, with international policing partners, represents the kind of partnerships that the National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre is working on to establish internationally in the ongoing effort to protect the children of Canada and of the world,” says Inspector Jennifer Strachan, Officer in Charge of the Centre which is an integral part of RCMP National Police Services. “This type of crime has no borders and is far reaching. We are committed to increasing the level of cooperation the Center has with the international law enforcement community, industry and government organizations in order to address the issues related to online sexual exploitation of children in a more integrated fashion.”

The Virtual Global Taskforce was created in 2003 as a direct response to lessons learned from investigations into online child abuse around the world. It is an international alliance of law enforcement agencies comprising the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the National Crime Squad for England and Wales, the Australian High Tech Crime Centre, the US Department of Homeland Security and Interpol.

The mission of the Virtual Global Taskforce is:

• to make the Internet a safer place;
• to identify, locate and help children at risk;
• to hold perpetrators appropriately accountable.

A crucial aspect in the success of the Virtual Global Taskforce is its innovative partnership with industry to help make the Internet safer by design. The founding VGT Industry Partners - Microsoft, AOL(UK), Vodafone and British Telecommunications - are working with the VGT to develop this collaboration.

"The Virtual Global Taskforce is part of Microsoft Canada's broader commitment to work with law enforcement agencies to protect children from online predators and to help parents become educated on how to keep their children safe online," said David Hemler, President, Microsoft Canada. "Microsoft Canada is proud to be a founding partner of this important initiative."

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For media inquiries, please call:

• RCMP Media Relations: Public Affairs and Communication Services Directorate at (613) 993-2999.
• Microsoft Canada: Stephanie Bell, Media Profile, at (416) 504-8464, ext. 330