Facebook is placing a so-called one-click "panic button" on pages served to users in the United Kingdom, allowing minors to quickly report suspicious activity to the authorities.

The partnership is with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), which had asked social-networking sites to add such a button. Bebo and MySpace agreed, the BBC reported, but Facebook had held out until Monday.


Users can visit the CEOP app page on Facebook to add the Facebook app. On Monday, every U.K. Facebook user between 13 and 18 saw an ad encouraging them to download the app.

Facebook Adds 'Panic Button' for U.K. Minors

"Both Facebook and CEOP have a shared interest in keeping young people safe online," Andrew Noyes, a Facebook spokesman, said in an email message. "Facebook is the expert when it comes to technology and how to get messages out effectively. CEOP is the expert in keeping young people safe through education and resources for children, parents and teachers in the UK."

Since CEOP is a U.K. government-run organization, it's unclear whether U.S. users would be able to add the app, or, if clicked, what actions would be taken - or if a U.S.-specific version could be added at a later date. Facebook officials were not immediately available for comment on Monday.

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, have defended Facebook's privacy strategy which is the target of many organisations since last few weeks. "Our dialogue with Facebook about adopting the ClickCeop button is well documented - today however is a good day for child protection," Jim Gamble, Ceop's chief executive, said in a statement. "By adding this application, Facebook users will have direct access to all the services that sit behind our ClickCeop button which should provide reassurance to every parent with teenagers on the site."

CEOP's new Facebook page will contain polls, news alerts and status updates. The page will look at topics that teenagers care about, such as celebrities, music and exams, and will link these subjects to questions about online safety, CEOP said.

Hope that this will help us having a bit better World Wide Web for minors.
 
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