Government of Canada announces funding to enhance online safety for Indigenous youth

Protecting children and youth from online exploitation requires prevention, education and strong community partnerships.

Protecting children and youth from online exploitation requires prevention, education and strong community partnerships.

Today, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, announced  $800,000 over five years for the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) to support the Bringing Empowerment, Awareness, Culture and Online Navigation (BEACON) Project, an Indigenous-led initiative that raises awareness of online child sexual exploitation risks among Indigenous youth and strengthens community-based prevention efforts.

Through the BEACON Project, Friendship Centres across Canada will provide culturally relevant online safety education and work with youth, families, Elders, service providers and community partners to strengthen prevention efforts, support those at risk and help build safer communities.

The BEACON project will also improve the collection of information on Indigenous youth experiences online, helping to ensure future policies, programs and prevention strategies are informed by and responsive to Indigenous perspectives and experiences.

This initiative builds on broader federal efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation and create safer online spaces. Since 2004, Canada's National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet supports prevention, awareness, law enforcement, victim protection, research and partnerships, while recent and proposed legislative measures strengthen protections for victims and enhance the accountability of social media platforms and AI chatbot services.

This federal investment is made through the Contribution Program to Combat Serious and Organized Crime (CPCSOC), which supports projects and partnerships that help prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation.