AFP recruits teen cyber spies

by sweet east pearl | July 16, 2008 at 08:06 pm | 238 views | 1 comment

Australian Federal Police have recruited twenty-youths, aged between 14 to 16 years, to help them fighting online crime. Why teens ? because their surfing skills are better than the veteran agents. Good point.

In an Australian first, 20 teenagers will today begin working with the AFP to develop strategies to catch cyber fraudsters, predators and even those grooming other youths for terrorism.

The move is part of a worldwide program with children in the US, Canada, UK and 23 other countries being recruited and deputised to help fight e-crime.

The AFP said the move was not a gimmick or an experiment but recognition that evolving technology was truly only understood by those who use it as part of their everyday lives.

The young also were best placed to identify evolving crime. That included cyber bullying and ID theft.

They could help police to develop strategies that would warn parents.

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Broken Simulacra

It sounds funny getting teens to help out the cops but there really are a lot of middle-aged people who can barely send an email or type a document, let alone use the internet. 

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July 16, 2008 at 08:06 pm by sweet east pearl, 238 views, 1 comment

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