Donna Plourde

I have worked to raise awareness and educate professionals and community members about human trafficking and exploitation, and have supported survivors, for more than 20 years (including serving as the Training Coordinator for the NH Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force). I have seen the grooming and manipulation used by those seeking to exploit the most vulnerable online and the devastating consequences. We must be proactive and intentional in our efforts to protect our children in digital spaces. Security measures and monitoring are not enough as they are too easily circumvented. Our children deserve safety and to have their privacy and personal data protected. This can be overwhelming for parents to navigate while some caregivers are unaware/naive concerning the very real dangers on the internet. Let's make sure parents and others caring for minors have the information and the tools they need to keep their children safe. App stores can easily implement basic safeguards of age verification and parental consent for any app listed in the store to ensure the best protections for our children. Please support HB1658. Thank you.