Police, Archdiocese Partner To Teach Kids, Parents Cyber Crime Prevention

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A coalition of law enforcement agencies, child advocacy groups, private entities and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles gathered Friday for a symposium warning children about the darker side of the Internet.

KNX 1070's Charles Feldman reports attendees at the Fifth Annual Cyber Crime Prevention Symposium are learning how to stay safe on the Internet, deal with cyber bullying, and maintain a good "digital reputation."

More than 400 educators, parents, and middle and high school students gathered at the California Endowment in Los Angeles to discuss a wide range of Internet-related security and safety issues, including child exploitation, cyber bullying, digital reputation, social media and Internet dangers, as well as "sextortion."

Student teams from each of the schools attending the one-day symposium will also be invited to participate in the 3rd Annual Cyber Safety contest to develop a cyber safety program at their respective schools in order to educate the entire student body on the various risks associated with cyber crime.

Students participating in this challenge will have their contest entries judged by a panel and the winning school will be publicized in April 2014.

"The message of the symposium overall is that the Internet is really a wonderful place and a wonderful tool as long as we use it safely, and know that sometimes there's a dark side to the Internet that presents dangers for children and adults alike," said
Tracey Webb with the L.A. City Attorney's office, who also co-chairs the county's Cyber Crimes Task Force.

In addition to the Archdiocese, other agencies participating in the event include: the Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (ICAN), Federal Bureau of Investigation, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

In:
• Crime