Israel’s Ministry of Public Security has launched a national headquarters for the protection of children on the internet, it was announced this week.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said the new hotline is officially open for business, and available by dialing telephone number “105.”
The hotline, he said, is the single address to deal with “all the concerns and dangers” that imperil children and youth on the web — including pedophilia and sexual harassment, and non-criminal offenses such as bullying and shaming which can be harmful as well. Specially-trained police officers and civilian experts in the field of child welfare and safety are staffing the hotline.
It operates in a similar format to that of the police emergency hotline, Erdan said, on a round-the-clock basis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The “MA’OR” National Child Online Protection Bureau, as it is called, is being established in collaboration with a number of government ministries, Erdan said.
“It will provide a complete response to all dangers that children and teens are exposed to on the internet,” he said.
The Bureau incorporates representatives from the Ministries of Education, Social Services and Welfare, Justice and Health.
It is technically defined as a joint police-civilian body, as part of the Israel Police Lahav 433 crime-fighting unit. The total program will be comprised of an administration, the national hotline and the special police unit aimed at targeting crimes against minors on the internet.