Gardaí and Facebook to join forces for missing child alerts

All Facebook users in Ireland will soon be alerted whenever a child goes missing and is believed to be in danger.

An Garda Síochána and Facebook are working together to help reunite missing children with their families by sending Facebook notifications to users. These will let users instantly share information about the missing child, including photos, hair colour and clothes, and about suspected abuctors. Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) alerts are already used on radio, television, the internet and electronic road signs to seek the public's assistance in certain cases where a child is missing. "When a child is abducted and in danger, an extra pair of eyes can make all the difference," Assistant Commissioner Special Crime Operations John O'Driscoll. "The most valuable thing we can do is get information out to the public as fast as possible." The news was welcomed by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, who said Facebook and CRI's partnership was "a wonderful example of using social media in a positive way for the good of society and, in particular, for the protection of vulnerable children. "I commend the collaboration between An Garda Síochána and Facebook and also welcome the opportunity this engagement provides to raise awareness of the issue of missing persons, more generally."