WASHINGTON – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is proud to release the Fiscal Year 2024 report for Project iGuardian, the in-person educational arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Project national public awareness campaign to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by HSI special agents and other subject matter experts, these audience-specific Project iGuardian presentations share information about the dangers of online environments, how to stay safe online, and how to report abuse and suspicious activity. Since its 2024 relaunch, the impact of Project iGuardian has gone beyond education and is directly contributing to the identification of victims and actionable leads.
“These results highlight the program's success in empowering communities to identify and report suspicious online behavior that could put children at risk of exploitation,” said Assistant Director of HSI Cyber and Operational Technology Robert Hammer.
Having originally debuted in 2014, HSI relaunched Project iGuardian in October 2023 to provide enhanced content developed by HSI subject matter experts, including, updated promotional materials, and expanded messaging tailored for adults, teens and children. The revamped program offers a law enforcement-informed perspective on the growing threat of online child sexual exploitation and abuse and includes real-world case studies and preventative strategies the public can implement to keep kids safer online.
"As technology advances, so do the tactics of online predators,” said Know2Protect Campaign Director Kate Kennedy. “It’s essential for Know2Protect to continually evolve Project iGuardian, empowering children and adults with the up-to-date knowledge and skills needed to stay safe online."
In Fiscal Year 2024, the HSI-led Project iGuardian made substantial progress in raising awareness and equipping adults, teens and children with vital tools to safeguard against online dangers. Key highlights of Project iGuardian’s achievements include:
- Increased trainers: HSI has trained and equipped more than 400 iGuardian presenters with the knowledge and tools they need to deliver effective presentations. The presenters’ dedication and commitment led to massive outreach and education around internet safety and how to prevent crimes of exploitation from happening to kids.
- Expansive reach and education: To reach people where they are, Project iGuardian has been delivered at places such as schools, summer camps and other youth-serving organizations, places of worship, law enforcement organizations, educational associations, and workplaces across the country. Project iGuardian exceeded its Fiscal Year 2024 goal to deliver at least 1,000 presentations to at least 100,000 people. Project iGuardian also gained international traction, with presentations given in English and Spanish at schools and government agencies, reaching audiences in Türkiye, Ecuador, Mexico, and Canada. Because of these efforts, iGuardian presenters delivered over 1,100 presentations (the most requested presentation in FY 2024 was the teen presentation) and staffed over 100 outreach events, reaching over 122,000 people in Fiscal Year 2024.
- Significant impact: Project iGuardian presentations are having a tangible impact on HSI investigations. In Fiscal Year 2024, Project iGuardian presentations generated approximately 75 victim disclosures and approximately 77 investigative leads.
- Positive feedback: In Fiscal Year 2024, a total of 650 audience members took optional surveys and provided invaluable feedback on their experiences. After hearing the presentation, 94% of people felt empowered to act, while 99% of survey takers said they would recommend others attend an iGuardian presentation. Additionally, 85% of audiences indicated that their presenter’s level of engagement was outstanding, which means that overall, HSI special agents are doing a great job engaging audiences on a difficult but important topic.
Addressing a Global Crisis
Project iGuardian’s re-launch comes at a critical time, as online child exploitation and abuse rates are escalating globally. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported more than 36 million CyberTipline® reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation and abuse in 2023, and the 2023 We Protect Global Threat Assessment reveals an 87% increase in child sexual abuse material worldwide over the last five years.
“Project iGuardian is a vital tool for reaching teens, children, parents and other trusted adults in communities across the world," added Kennedy. "We look forward to building on these efforts in the coming year and encourage everyone to sign up for our presentations to help spread this important safety information.”
Project iGuardian is now tailored to meet the needs of different audiences and is available in a wide variety of settings, including schools, summer camps, sporting events, conferences, and more. To learn more about HSI’s Project iGuardian or request an iGuardian presentation, visit Know2Protect.
"The ultimate goal is to prevent child sexual exploitation before it happens, and by equipping community members with the knowledge to recognize online predators, we empower them to take the necessary action to prevent these heinous crimes,” continued Hammer.
- If you believe someone is the victim of child sexual exploitation, you can report it through one of the following ways:
- Contact your local, state or tribal law enforcement officials directly. Call 911 in an emergency.
- Call the Know2Protect tip line at 1-833-591-KNOW.
- All information received via the tipline will be reviewed by appropriate personnel and referred to HSI field offices for potential investigation.
- Call 1-800-843-5678 or submit a CyberTipline report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Know2Protect is a national public awareness campaign from the Department of Homeland Security. Know2Protect’s aim is to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults, and policymakers to prevent, combat, and report online child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information, please visit our YouTube playlists at Know2Protect Campaign PSA Playlist and Know2Protect Digital Safety Series Playlist on the DHS main channel. Additional resources are available at know2protect.gov, and @Know2Protect on Instagram, Facebook and X, (formerly Twitter).