Facebook to adopt CEOP button in renewed online safety push

Facebook has reversed on its decision not to adopt the CEOP abuse-reporting button as it launches a major online safety campaign.

The social network has agreed to adopt the button and is backing it with a £5m education and awareness campaign that will see 1bn ad impressions provided to organisations to help educate users about being safe online.

In March, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) called for Facebook to add its abuse-reporting button. However, until today the social network has refused, saying its own reporting system was more robust (nma.co.uk 11 March 2010).

Facebook met with CEOP officials yesterday to discuss why it hadn’t yet added the button and has subsequently reversed its original decision.

It has introduced a Safety Centre where parents, teachers, teenagers and police can get information and resources about online safety. It’s also launching a 24-hour police hotline, which will be dedicated solely to helping UK police with investigations, emergencies and prosecutions.

Elliot Schrage, VP of global communications and public policy at Facebook, said, “The investments and partnerships we’ve announced today, in direct reporting, in education and awareness, and in greater support for law enforcement, will transform social networking safety and security. They represent the most comprehensive public/private safety initiative since social networking began in the UK almost a decade ago.”

Stephen Balkam, CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute, said, “Education is one of the four pillars of what we do and we’re confident the new Safety Centre on Facebook, as well as its investment in raising online safety awareness, will demonstrate the progress that can be made by bringing together safety organisations and Facebook technology in a concerted effort to reach families who now use the Internet as part of their everyday lives.”

This story first appeared on newmediaage.co.uk