WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance Subcommittee hearing today on protecting youths in an online world.

Witness List:

Ms. Jessica Rich, Deputy Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission

Mr. Hemanshu Nigam, Safety Advisor, News Corporation, Founder, SSP Blue, and Co-Chair, Online Safety and Technology Working Group

Mr. Jeff McIntyre, Director, National Policy, Children Now

Ms. Michelle Collins, Vice President, Exploited Children Division, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Mr. K. Dane Snowden, Vice President, External and State Affairs, CTIA–The Wireless Association

Key Quotations from Today’s Hearing: 

“I know this is a concern weighing heavily on the minds of so many parents across America, and we should all be deeply committed to doing all we can to safeguard our nation’s youth. I don’t pretend there’s an easy answer, but I do firmly believe we can do better – and can do more – to protect our youth online. Our efforts will require all of us – parents, the private sector, government and educators – to work together. When the challenges we face involve the safety of our kids, we all must get involved. Inaction in the face of this growing problem is simply not an option.”

Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV 

“New technologies and websites like iPhone and Facebook have changed the online landscape and altered how our kids use the Internet. Protecting children’s online privacy and security has become increasingly complicated, and today’s hearing highlights the need to ensure we have effective policies in place to address these evolving challenges.”

Senator Mark Pryor, Chairman, U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance

“The Commission is committed to protecting all consumers in the digital environment, especially those consumers, such as teens, who are particularly vulnerable to threats on the Internet. The FTC will continue to act aggressively to protect teens through education, law enforcement, and policy initiatives that will better enable teens to control their information online.”

Ms. Jessica Rich, Deputy Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission

“Every online safety program must consist of technology, education, collaboration and enforcement designed to prevent unwanted content, contact and conduct.”

Mr. Hemanshu Nigam, Safety Advisor, News Corporation, Founder, SSP Blue, and Co-Chair, Online Safety and Technology Working Group 

“Children and youth are no longer just observers of media, soaking up information like a sponge. Now, they are active participants – often bypassing parents – to create and remix – games, websites, social networking profiles, or participate in chat rooms or adver-games.”

Mr. Jeff McIntyre, Director, National Policy, Children Now

“Youth will often engage in risky behavior, in both the ‘real’ world and in the online world. The combination of the Internet, easy transmission of digital images, and poor judgment can lead to serious and unintended consequences for youth – including becoming the victim of enticement, blackmail, harassment and exploitation by both adults and other youth.”

Ms. Michelle Collins, Vice President, Exploited Children Division, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

“Today’s tech-savvy children continue to embrace mobile technologies for educational, entertainment, safety, and other purposes. The wireless industry has proactively deployed effective tools that empower parents, and it will continue to innovate in the future. As the wireless industry develops innovative devices, cutting-edge applications and deploys next-generation networks, CTIA believes that our industry’s best practices must continue to evolve to reflect the growing consumer demands in the wireless ecosystem.”

Mr. K. Dane Snowden, Vice President, External and State Affairs, CTIA–The Wireless Association

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