Israel Launches Innovative Project to Protect Children on the Internet

By Hana Levi Julian   

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan at Ma'or Conference in Jerusalem  

Photo Credit: Israel Ministry of Public Security

Israel’s Public Security Ministry has announced the formation of the ‘MA’OR’ program together with Israel Police, a joint 24/7 police-civilian initiative to combat violence and crime against children on the internet.

Israeli officials announced that beginning this summer, the “105″ assistance hotline will go live to respond to all types of threats against children and youth on the internet.

“The program will serve as a protective shield for Israel’s youth against bullying and sex offenses on the web,” said Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who introduced the program Tuesday at a conference held at the Jerusalem Theater.

The MA’OR program was established in collaboration with other government ministries, in order to prevent violence against youth on the internet.

“The challenge of protecting our children on the web required us to establish a new defense mechanism, the likes of which have not been seen before 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 on the internet. As a parent to 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.”

MA’OR will be part of the police’s Lahav 433 crime fighting unit and was allocated a budget of more than NIS 45 million and 130 police positions, along with additional government positions (from the Public Security, Justice, Education and Welfare ministries).

The joint police-civilian body will be comprised of an administration, a national help hotline and a special police unit that will target crimes against minors on the internet.

The heart of the program will be its 24-hour hotline, able to be reached by phone – by dialing 105 – or via the internet. The hotline will respond to all types of threats against children and youth on the web, including pedophilia and sexual harassment, as well as non-criminal offenses such as bullying and shaming, which can also be harmful.

Police officers with specialized training together with and civilian experts in the field of child welfare and safety will staff the hotline.

According to data collected in 2017 on cyber-bullying and internet abuse by the Ministry of Public Security’s research department, the subject is one of the three most troublesome problems for the Israeli public.

One in three children is exposed to threats or verbal violence on the web;

One in four children is exposed to shaming or bullying;

One in five children is exposed to messages of a sexual nature;

One in 10 children is exposed to sexual harassment; and

One in 10 children is exposed to blackmail or identity theft.