MEDIA RELEASE

The FBI’s Honolulu Division has honored the Hawaii Internet Safety Awards (ISA) Program, the state’s largest Internet safety awareness program.

The ISA Program began as a partnership between the Honolulu InfraGard chapter, the state Department of Education, and a variety of private sector sponsors, including Microsoft, MySpace, First Hawaiian Bank, Sprint, and others.

The ISA Program was designed around a peer education model in which students produce public service announcements (PSAs) that address online problems such as cyber-bullying, social networking safety, and digital piracy and plagiarism.

The PSAs are showcased during an “MTV-style” awards ceremony, where winning schools gain funds to support technology and media programs.

Winning videos are broadcast statewide on network television and are also made available to the public and law enforcement communities via the Internet.

Supported by a small staff of dedicated volunteers, the program focuses on the idea that early intervention is the key to preventing cyber crime. Each year, thousands of students attend school assemblies hosted by the ISA Program that focus on Internet safety.

The program has a unique and creative approach to solving community problems and has been instrumental in promoting the FBI and its commitment to public safety through use of the media.