Crime Stoppers International

Protecting Children Online: A Call for Mandatory Device-Based Age Verification The internet is a vital part of daily life, but for children, it comes with serious risks. According to a recent UNICEF report, over one-third of young people in 30 countries have experienced cyberbullying. Moreover, sexually explicit content, violent and hateful material, and online predators remain alarmingly accessible to children. To address these challenges, Crime Stoppers International (CSI) and the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC Global) are urging governments to mandate device-based age verification and require the default activation of parental controls on all internet-enabled devices. Our position paper, Protecting Children Online: Mandatory Device-Based Age Verification and Parental Controls, strongly advocates for the immediate adoption of device-based age verification. ICMEC’s Model Bill for Protecting Children Online provides the building blocks of legislation to this end that can be adapted to any legislative context. Both publications outline the key issues associated with online child safety, including the consequences of unrestricted access, and the adoption of age verification instead of app-by-app and website-by-website verification as a protective measure. Both also acknowledge the important work underway by policymakers globally and legislative changes under consideration in many countries to strengthen the online protection of children. Hayley van Loon, Deputy CEO of Crime Stoppers International, underscores the urgency:  "Over 400 million websites operate without safety mechanisms to manage harmful content such as child sexual abuse material. Device-based age verification can leverage biometric authentication and secure hardware already embedded in cell phones, laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, and other devices to provide a high level of accuracy that surpasses traditional methods like self-reported birthdates, which are highly susceptible to misrepresentation and circumvention”. Travis Heneveld, Interim CEO of ICMEC, adds:  “As a non-partisan, global nonprofit committed to advancing child protection and safeguarding vulnerable children around the world, ICMEC calls on governments, regulators, policymakers, legislators and technology companies to work together to establish clear guidelines and global standards for device-based age verification.” With legislative changes under consideration worldwide, this is a pivotal moment to prioritize online child safety. Together, we can create a safer digital future for children everywhere. Link to position paper: https://lnkd.in/ghVq_a2h #ChildSafety #OnlineProtection #DigitalSafety #AgeVerification #ParentalControls #CrimeStoppersInternational #ICMEC #ProtectingChildrenOnline Travis Heneveld Hayley van Loon Sharon Hanlon AM

Do you recognize this woman? In July 2010 a woman’s body was discovered in the Meuse River in Liège🇧🇪. The woman, believed to be between 60 and 80 years old, only had five teeth in her upper jaw. She wore a silver metallic pendant resembling an Asian man on a green cord. She had a dark brown wooden cane with a black rubber tip. ➡️🔗 https://lnkd.in/dJvG2ANZ #IdentifyMe

Criminals are flooding SA with deadly illicit electrical products. 👊🏽Insist retailers sell only compliant goods. 👊🏽Call for @NRCS_ZA to do its job and enforce the laws that are meant to keep us safe. #StopTheShock #LockThemUp @TaxJustice_SA

As a charity, we have a unique role that is independent from authorities. Our promise of anonymity really makes a difference to: ✅ Those who contact us with nowhere else to turn ✅ The victims of crime who see justice being done ✅ Communities being safer places Now is the time to build on our achievements, to challenge ourselves and our supporters. We can do more to not just stop criminals – but stop people becoming victims as well. https://bit.ly/3YHhSEq

📣 ANNOUNCEMENT - NEW GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP TO COUNTER CYBER-PHYSICAL THREATS FACING SOVEREIGN COUNTRIES Critical Infrastructure-Information Sharing & Analysis Centre, International (CI-ISAC International) & Crime Stoppers International (CSI) share a common vision of fostering secure and more resilient communities through collaboration, trust, & the proactive sharing of vital information to generate useful intelligence. (Click on the article below for more details). Our two organisations have signed a global partnership agreement to collaborate operationally to help all sovereign countries better understand & address the complex interdisciplinary domain of cyber-physical threats that impact all sectors of industry, in all countries. We jointly recognise the vital role of empowering individuals & industries at a whole-of-nation level to contribute to collective security—whether by building trusted cyber communities to protect critical digital infrastructure or providing safe, anonymous channels that enhance physical security and crime reporting. Together and aligned with the principle of #TrustedLocal = #TrustedGlobal, CI-ISAC International & CSI embody a shared commitment to leveraging innovative tools, partnerships, and community-driven solutions to anticipate, mitigate, and respond to threats spanning the cyber-physical domain to ensure a safer and more secure world for all. #Strongertogether #Leavenoonebehind World Economic Forum Cybersecurity Global Cybersecurity Forum Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) Global Cyber Alliance, Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) & Hans de Vries Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade & Brendan Dowling National Cyber Security Coordinator Nationaal Cyber Security Centrum (NCSC-NL) & CI-ISAC NL, CI-ISAC Brazil OpenCTI by Filigran, Group-IB, INTERPOL

If you are looking for some fresh reading for 2025, please read our position paper: Protecting Children Online: A Call for Mandatory Device-Based Age Verification.

🌟 Why Attend the Film Experience? 🌟 The 8th Annual Weekend Film Experience is more than just movies—it's a chance to bring our community together and support Crime Stoppers Bermuda in the fight against crime. 🎥 What to Expect: ✨ Exclusive film screenings ✨ Networking opportunities ✨ Fundraising for a safer Bermuda Your support makes a difference. Save the dates: February 27 – March 2, 2025, and stay tuned for ticket sales! #SupportLocal #BermudaFilm #CommunitySafety

#stoptheillegalempire https://lnkd.in/grUjTebs

The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) is urging residents to prioritise their safety, if intending to meet up with any unknown individual, to buy or sell items advertised online. Three reports have been received between the 24th and 26th December 2024, where an unknown individual stole an item offered for sale on Facebook Marketplace, after meeting unsuspecting sellers at three separate prearranged locations. The stolen items included popular brand name electronics. Inquiries are ongoing regarding all of these matters, with the possibility some instances may be linked. Noting the popularity of Facebook Marketplace and other similar online commerce sites, the following proactive advice is strongly recommended. https://bit.ly/49XYKWO