Terry Goddard Takes Online Safety Program to Tucson

(Phoenix, Ariz. – Aug. 23, 2006) Attorney General Terry Goddard will make an Internet Safety presentation at Maxwell Middle School in Tucson on Thursday, Aug. 24. He will promote online safety when he meets with 170 eighth-graders at 2 p.m.

The presentation will emphasize precautions young people should take with social network Web sites such as myspace.com and facebook.com. The presentation will include experiences of teens who have been victims of Internet exploitation. The Internet safety program was developed by NetSmartz and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Internet safety is a topic of growing importance because young people are spending more time online, and many are unaware of the dangers they can encounter. A recent survey conducted by Cox Communications and the National Center for Missing and Exploited children found that 30 percent of kids between 13 and 17 years old considered having a face-to-face meeting with someone they met online. The survey also revealed that 14 percent actually had the meeting.

Goddard will be joined by Tucson Unified School District Superintendent Roger Pfeuffer.

Maxwell Middle School is located at 2802 West Anklam Road in Tucson. This presentation is open to the media. Goddard will be available for interviews following the event.