Safer Internet Day

Speaking Notes

It is great to be here today to celebrate Safer Internet Day with you -- the experts on using the Internet and technology. As you all know, youth are the ones who are avid users and I believe that we, as police officers, can learn a great deal from you as we develop new and innovative ways to keep the Internet safer for all of us. Keeping the Internet Safer -- not always an easy task and not the sole responsibility of the police but rather the responsibility of many of us -- like my partners here today. But there is also another key partner -- and that is youth -- you all play an important role in keeping the Internet safer.

I have seen first hand the strength, creativity, and great ideas that youth have when it comes to making the Internet safer. This past summer, I was able to travel to the International Youth Advisory Congress in England UK. Through the International work that my Centre, the National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre, engages in, the Virtual Global Taskforce held an international youth congress that brought almost 150 youth from 19 countries together to develop their ideas and thoughts on how police, industry and government can work together to promote a safer Internet environment. I was taken back by the level of knowledge and useful suggestions that the youth brought forward -- we, as the Canadian and international police community are committed to hearing the youth voice and will ensure that our work keeps this perspective at the forefront.

At times, those of us working in this area can be overwhelmed -- I am sure you too have heard the many stories about how some people use the Internet and technology to hurt people, youth included. Let me reassure you that the partners here today are committed to helping change that and to making people accountable for what they do online. The police, both in your own communities and internationally, are working together -- we have specialized training, technological experts, and very committed people and we are making progress. This area of policing although sometimes very difficult, emotional work, is a great area to work in.

For those of you who are technologically inclined, and I think there are many in this room today, I encourage you to think about using that day to day in a policing career. In the meantime, I encourage you to be leaders among your peers -- help spread the message about Internet safety and if you see anything online that concerns you, report to cybertip.ca -- as avid Internet users, you are our eyes and ears online. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today.

Safe surfing!

Superintendant John Bilinski, OIC, CPCMEC