PHOENIX (CBS5) -
We know they're out there - online predators targeting the youngest and most vulnerable. But there's a little-known technology used to fight cyber crime, and it's being utilized in the Valley of the Sun.
Nowadays, predators want to know more than the age, sex and location of their victims. Just this week, Jonathan Lane of Bullhead City flew to Tampa to have sex with an underage, wheelchair-bound girl after meeting her on Yahoo Messenger, police said.
"This notion that we can live our lives publicly on the internet but have a private life, I think that's what a lot of people are coming to grips with," said Ken Colburn with the Data Doctors.
He said there's a little-known technology being used to catch predators and prevent a crime from happening. Colburn said it's easier for sites such as Facebook because they have so much information about you.
Here's how it works: Facebook looks at profiles of sexual offenders and studies the behavior that led to the charges. Then they use those keywords to look at conversations between users with few connections, like a 40-year-old man and 13-year-old girl who have no common friends on the site. So if something is potentially inappropriate, it can be flagged.
"If they get something that's very creepy they'll give us a holler," said Sgt. Tommy Thompson with Phoenix police. "It's my understanding that we have good success working with them."
Thompson said police walk a fine line with this technology since so many people are weary of "Big Brother" watching. Still, he said it's an important tool to keep using.
"The First Amendment is one of our most guarded rights we have in the United States," Thompson said. "Along with that right to express ourselves, there are responsibilities."
If people think they are safe by having parental controls set up on their computer, they should think again. There are always smart phones and kids' friends houses. Instead, parents should teach children how to filter their own activity, Thompson said.
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