Battle between Facebook and CEOP continues

Another verbal attack was made towards online social network Facebook by Jim Gamble of CEOP today. In a briefing with reports, he accused Facebook of being 'arrogant' and questioned their interests in collective child protection.

The disagreement between Facebook and CEOP has continued for months and has developed over the placement of a panic button on the site. The CEOP panic button allows any young social network users to make a complaint about a certain user or users should they feel uncomfortable, threatened or scared as a result of negative behaviour. Such behaviour can involve bullying, insults, general threats or the unwanted attention of a potential sex offender.

Facebook insists that the website has its own reporting system in operation and that the CEOP panic button does not offer any advantage to the social networking site. As a result, they refuse to have the CEOP branded button on Facebook.

In relation to sex offences, the question must be asked whether a panic button is really the solution to online predators posing as younger men attractive to younger females. Some would argue that general lack of awareness and naivity on a childs part would make them trusting of an offender, and that they therefore wouldn't use the button to report grooming or other indecent behaviour.

Facebook and CEOP will meet during 12th April in an attempt to discuss and resolve the situation.