Protecting teens' online privacy is the goal of a new public education campaign launched today by Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin in cooperation with Facebook.
"The Internet offers many opportunities for young people. It is a gateway to exciting new opportunities and allows young people to expand their horizons far beyond their neighborhoods. But, it can also be a place of danger. That is why we need to ensure the Internet is a safe and secure environment for our young people. Just as we address bullying in our schools and teach our children to be aware of dangers in our communities, we must address them online," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "I am pleased to join with Facebook to launch this online safety campaign. I urge parents, teachers, community leaders and policy makers to learn more about how to create a safe online space for children through this campaign."
The initiative, which was formally unveiled at the National Association of Attorneys General's (NAAG) Presidential Initiative Summit on "Privacy in the Digital Age," provides teenagers and parents with tips and resources to better manage what information they share - and with whom they share it - both on Facebook and more broadly on the Internet.
Attorney General Kilmartin joined with Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg in taping a public service announcement entitled "What You Can Do to Control Your Information," which addresses top questions about privacy, bullying prevention and general Internet safety. Although the awareness campaign targets young people, the online privacy resources can be utilized by all consumers. The effort also includes a privacy tip sheet and an "Ask the Safety Team" video series where Facebook will answer consumers' questions. Both can be found at www.riag.ri.gov and www.facebook.com/fbsafety. The NAAG Presidential Initiative Summit covered the latest legal and policy issues related to digital privacy and featured prominent speakers discussing cybersecurity, data mining, government responses and market solutions to Internet privacy challenges and more.