Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan on Tuesday revealed a new national program aimed at preventing online violence and crimes directed against children and youth. The Online Violence and Crime Prevention Network, known by its Hebrew acronym MAOR, "will serve as a protective shield for Israel's youth against bullying and sexual offenses on the web," Erdan told reporters at a conference in Jerusalem to introduce the new program. MAOR was established by the Israel Police and the Public Security Ministry, in conjunction with the Justice, Education and Welfare ministries, and will operate under the police's Lahav 433 Major Crimes Unit. The joint police-civilian program will operate a national helpline and will include a special police unit aimed at preventing online crimes against minors. The hotline, which can be reached by dialing 105 or via the program's website, will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will handle online threats against children, whether regarding pedophilia, sexual harassment, or non-criminal offenses like bullying and shaming. Specially trained police officers and child welfare and safety experts will be responsible for manning the call center. According to Public Security Ministry data, cyber-bullying and internet abuse are one of the top concerns among the Israeli public in 2017. Ministry data indicates that one in three Israeli children is exposed to threats or verbal violence online, while one in four is exposed to shaming or bullying. Even more troubling, the research found that one in five children is exposed to messages "of a sexual nature," and one in 10 is exposed to sexual harassment online. State Attorney Shai Nitzan said his office would examine ways to remove or block malicious users and filter online searches. Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh said the project was necessary because "the internet has turned into a lethal weapon." MAOR activities will initially focus on professional seminars aimed at exposing data on the scope of the phenomenon, as well as lectures from renowned professionals in the field from Israel and around the world. "The challenge of protecting our children on the internet required us to establish a new defense mechanism, the likes of which has never before been seen in Israel," Erdan said. "The new program will provide an immediate response to any complaint of cyber-bullying and will serve as a national center for dealing with the exploitation and abuse of children online. As a parent of small children, I am familiar with the many dangers they are exposed to in general, and on the internet in particular. This program is cutting edge, a virtual shield to protect our children in the virtual world."
