FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Canadian Non-profit DEMANDING Government do More to Protect Kids Online
NPO’s petition targets social media sites.
WINDSOR, Ontario – October 7, 2021 – DEFEND a volunteer-run not-for-profit aims to reduce risks for children and vulnerable people online by education and advocacy. DEFEND volunteers in Windsor are holding a rally to protect children and vulnerable people. The volunteers are also gathering signatures on a hard copy petition that is to be served to the federal government in the coming months. DEFEND’s petition calls for legislative changes to happen, and for ALL social media sites to have age/ID verification for every user.
Ali, a DEFEND volunteer from Windsor, says he is motivated by the organization because it’s a viable way to make changes happen, “I decided to volunteer with DEFEND because it is important that we protect our children and community members from the life-changing dangers that CAN and HAVE resulted in traumatic experiences.”
A tour to gather signatures in several major Canadian cities started in Vancouver and is stopping in Windsor before heading to Alberta. DEFEND wants Windsor to speak up about the issues and sign the petition because in 2020 Facebook alone had 20,307,216 reports of child sex abuse.
DEFEND volunteers will be on hand gathering signatures at:
Riverside Drive/Ouellette Ave in Downtown Windsor
11am to 5pm on October 9, 2021
DEFEND aims to:
● Educate parents, kids and the general public about a variety of online risks
● Advocate for vulnerable people by taking steps to make real changes
● Protect children by demanding the Canadian/US governments legislate age/ID verification on all social media platforms
Currently, DEFEND is run by more than 60 professionals across the world. Some are parents, who are very concerned about their children’s safety using social media. Others are family members or friends of highly vulnerable people who take an interest in protecting those who are potential targets. “I speak not only as someone who is volunteering with DEFEND but also as a concerned local of Windsor,” adds Ali, “We need to ensure that our minors, and other vulnerable community members are protected from unsafe internet and social media activities.”
To be proactive, DEFEND is currently working with their Tech Team to develop a new social media platform called 65square which will have age and ID verification built-in from the ground up in case the petition fails. More information can be found at: www.65square.com
For more information, please contact:
Romaine Bonghanya, Chair of DEFEND