January 14, 2009

    LANSING -  Attorney General Mike Cox today criticized a Harvard University report that failed to properly recognize the threat Internet predators pose to children.  Cox cited several areas in which the report fell short, most notably the part stating that children face no greater risk online than offline.

    "With one of the leading Internet predators units in the country, I know firsthand the threat children face everyday on the Internet," said Cox.  "Internet predators are a real risk to children, and I will not sit by while pontificators, not prosecutors, issue reports trying to downplay this threat.  I am urging my fellow members of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) to reject this report and redouble our efforts to find real solutions to protect children."

    In January 2008, Attorney General Cox and fellow Attorneys General announced an agreement with MySpace to better protect children online.  Part of the agreement called for the creation of a task force devoted to finding and developing online safety tools.  The task force was composed primarily of industry experts and members of the educational community, and did not have any members of NAAG or any assistant attorneys general. 

    Cox cited several deficiencies with the report:

• Most importantly, the report fails to properly recognize the fundamental difference between risks young people face online versus risks young people face in a non-cyber setting.  The report calls online dangers "not significantly different than those they [children] face off-line."
   

• It downplays the danger posed by Internet predators and further downplays their presence in the Internet social networking realm.
   
• Our experience shows that Internet predators are more prevalent and brazen in an online environment where they can remain anonymous for a time (or so they think).
   
• Also, online predators reach out to children in their home.  Additionally, children are more likely to open up to a predator online than they would if they were in the school yard or at the mall.
   

• Finally, the report also fails to specify how the new technology outlined in the report would be implemented.

    In 2007, Cox launched the Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative (Michigan CSI) in order to help educate parents and teachers about the threat children face online.  Michigan CSI has four courses; three targeted to children in grades K-8, and a fourth course for parents and teachers.

    "My office will continue to educate Michigan families on the dangers Internet predators pose to children," said Cox.  "And we will continue to educate children and parents on how to best avoid and identify Internet predators.  I only wish those responsible for writing this report would have consulted our Michigan CSI materials."

    For more information on Michigan, CSI visit www.michigan.gov/csi.

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