October 13, 2020

EIE Applauds National Collaborative Effort to Safeguard Children During COVID Pandemic
 

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 13, 2020 - Enough Is Enough^® (EIE), a national nonprofit organization fighting to make the internet safer for children and families since 1994, applauds the White House and the National Center for Missing and Exploiting Children (NCMEC) for its collaborative efforts to safeguard children online with the release of a “national safety pledge,” especially at the height of the COVID pandemic where children are more vulnerable to online exploitation.

EIE’s bi-partisan Children’s Internet Safety Presidential Pledge, signed by Donald J. Trump and supported by Hillary Clinton during the 2016 elections, prioritized the need to prevent the sexual exploitation of children online. The White House’s unparalleled commitment to this end has been evidenced by substantial increased funding and resources allocated to combat sex trafficking and child sex abuse, as well as synergetic partnerships established with organizations fighting protect children in the digital world, including Enough Is Enough^®.

“It is humbling to see the this administration and NCMEC adopt the teaching cornerstones and safety pledges of EIE’s first-of-a kind parent-focused Internet Safety 101^® program launched in 2009 in partnership with the Department of Justice,” said Donna Rice Hughes, President of Enough is Enough. 

The Emmy-award winning 101 program and website is designed to educate, equip and empower parents, teachers and caregivers with the knowledge and resources needed to protect children from Internet dangers including pornography, predators, cyberbullies and threats related to online gaming, social networking and mobile devices.

“Reports of child exploitation have increased 126% during the COVID pandemic and there has never been a more critical time for our nation to work together to defend child dignity and child safety on the internet,” said Rice Hughes. “The battle to defend the innocence and dignity of children from sexual exploitation is of pandemic proportions. It takes collaborative efforts at the state, national and international levels to protect children from the unprecedented challenges and dangers they are experiencing in the digital world. In addition, the public, technology industry and legal community must each do its part to protect its most vulnerable citizens, our children.”