Staff Reports
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas traveled to New York on Wednesday to introduce a new campaign aimed at educating the public about the dangers of online exploitation of children. The initiative, called Know2Protect, features a website that provides information on how adults can use digital tools to lure children into harmful situations.
The campaign encourages parents to talk to their children about online risks and offers advice for children who may be targeted. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of not blaming the children, preserving evidence, and contacting authorities. Major digital companies, such as Roblox and Google, have pledged to support the campaign by running internet safety ads and providing free ad space on their platforms.
While Congress deals with impeachment, Mayorkas focuses on child safety https://t.co/hSqPyqwvfj
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) April 17, 2024
According to Homeland Security, there were 36 million reports of online child exploitation in 2023, marking a significant increase from 2019. Mr. Mayorkas emphasized the importance of the campaign, stating that young people are increasingly becoming targets for predators through manipulation and deceit as they spend more time online.
Mr. Mayorkas faced impeachment proceedings in the GOP-controlled House earlier this year, making him the first sitting Cabinet secretary in U.S. history to be impeached. However, the Democrat-led Senate is expected to dismiss the case against him, potentially as early as Wednesday. He recently appeared before a House committee and is scheduled to testify before a Senate panel on Thursday.
The new campaign launched by Mr. Mayorkas aims to address a critical issue facing the nation and u
