Microsoft has installed a panic button into UK editions of MSN Messenger and Live Messenger in order to protect kids from online sexual predators. The software behemoth has linked up with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) to add a special button to the chat service, meaning that youngsters are just one click away from making a report to police if they are concerned their online ‘buddy’ is a sex offender.
“We take the safety and security of young people online very seriously,” explains Carrie Bogner, Senior Director, Citizenship, Windows Live. “People can already control who they do and don’t allow onto their Messenger buddy list – the new CEOP tab launched today is another safety feature that will make Windows Live and MSN Messenger safer still.”
“Behind the ‘report abuse’ button will sit police and intelligence officers who have been specially trained to tackle child sex abuse. We will tell you how to capture information and how to seize online discussions and then proactively do all we can to track down the perpetrator,” he explained.
What’s more, through the icon and link to the CEOP web site, users from anywhere in the world can access the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) – an international alliance of law enforcement agencies – of which the CEOP Centre is the UK’s representative. Hopefully this will ensure that more Net perverts are snared and exposed and make using a computer a safer past-time for children.
