The Embassy’s office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in coordination with the government of Ecuador, is hosting a Child Exploitation Cyber Training event March 7 to 10 in Quito.
The seminar, supported by Child Rescue Coalition (CRC) and the U.S. State Department, will allow CRC trainers to share their knowledge and experience with approximately 30 Ecuadorian police and prosecutors. Three (3) investigators from Cary PD (NC), LAPD and Mississippi’s AG’s office will illustrate online investigative techniques and undercover operations under the Child Protection System (CPS) that includes a suite of programs centered on a web-based interface that provides trained law enforcement access to investigative data gathered by automated tools and law enforcement searches. The CPS software allows trained investigators to identify offenders using peer-to-peer networks to access, possess, and share child pornography.
The CRC has the most advanced, comprehensive system in the world to expose the secret places where online predators lurk. Their system compiles and curates millions of records that are indexed and immediately retrievable by law enforcement officials 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Ambassador Chapman, who participated in the opening session, stated “This event today is a shining example of our positive collaboration to address a shared security threat – the exploitation of our youth – and is just the latest in a series of trainings and information-sharing that we have coordinated with our Ecuadorian counterparts.” Ambassador Chapman congratulated the Government of Ecuador for heightening the penalties for related crimes in the new Criminal Code and for the creation of a specialized unit devoted to investigating child exploitation cases within the police.
Ambassador Chapman added, “The two countries enjoy a strong cooperation in security issues. We share information about security, fight against drug trafficking, and cooperate closely to reduce the damage transnational crime inflicts on our societies”.
