You’re shopping at the mall with your children when one of them suddenly disappears. A quick search of the nearby area is unsuccessful. What do you do?
Now there’s a free new tool from the FBI that can help. The FBI’s just-launched Child ID app – the first mobile application created by the FBI — provides a convenient place to electronically store photos and vital information about your children so that it’s literally right at hand if you need it. You can show the pictures and provide physical identifiers such as height and weight to security or police officers on the spot. Using a special tab on the app, you can also quickly and easily e-mail the information to authorities with a few clicks.
The app also includes tips on keeping children safe as well as specific guidance on what to do in those first few crucial hours after a child goes missing.
The FBI encourages you to share the word about this app with family and friends, especially during upcoming activities in your communities to raise awareness on crime and drug prevention. For its part, the FBI is working to publicize the app with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) — its long-time partner in the National Child Identification Program, which provides a physical kit to gather your child’s pictures, fingerprints, personal characteristics, and even DNA to keep with you in case of emergency. The AFCA is producing a public service announcement about the app and will spread the word at various football games during the upcoming season.
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Right now, the Child ID app is available for use only on Apple iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch devices and can only be downloaded for free from the App Store on iTunes. The FBI plans to expand this tool to other types of mobile devices in the near future. And the FBI will be adding new features — including the ability to upload other photos stored on your smartphone – in the coming weeks and months.
An important note: The FBI (and Apple for that matter) is not collecting or storing any photos or information that you enter in the app. All data resides solely on your mobile device unless you need to send it to authorities. Please read your mobile provider’s terms of service for information about the security of applications stored on your device.
Put your child’s safety in your own hands.
More info and download link via Apple’s App Store here: FBI Child ID app.
This sounds interesting.
The real kicker is that the app can also be used for straying pets and adults. Just imagine the possibilities….
And so it begins…
And so the Big Brother comments begin…
Oh what am I thinking? No one would ever use this information! I retract my comment we can fully and totally trust the FBI with every detail you voluntarily give them.
{iftherewasarollingyoureyesiconi’duseit}
You and F10T12 need to put on your tinfoil hats and huddle around a candle in a basement with blacked out windows and exchange paranoia stories.
By the way, I am sure the FBI already has this information on you if it deems you to be a threat.
At least those rolling eyes would have read this:
“An important note: The FBI (and Apple for that matter) is not collecting or storing any photos or information that you enter in the app. All data resides solely on your mobile device unless you need to send it to authorities.”
The App does not require a password to open. When someone steals your phone, they get all the private details about your kids. Great…
If you’re that concerned, password your iPhone…
+1. People can’t wait to criticize. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS PASSWORD your phone. Too bad stupidity doesn’t hurt.
What if they find out my password is 0000???
My phone is locked. However, I’m not putting this kind of information behind a 4digit password. The FBI should know better.
Then again, the FBIs next generation case file system is hundreds of millions $$ over budget and nowhere near complete.
JD, you can set a longer password in settings.
Really? But my iPhone already has all my pics of the kids and my address and birthdays in my address book and calendar, not to mention movies I made of events in iMovie. All this app does is put some of these basics in one place for quick and easy access.
And this is different from them stealing your phone, looking at a contact with “home” in it, and copying that info how?
Lock the phone, numb skull
as someone pointed out on another site.
you hand your CHILD the iPhone…. and the APP is accessed by YOUR OWN CHILD…. the emergency call button is called thinking it’s just a game app you have.
Password locking the app would be a good idea.
I thought the FBI app was to alert the user of missing kids, not report your own..
“numb skull”? … I love how nice people behave here… please treat the others as you would like to be treated… is not that difficult… right?
Thanks
Hey, up yours buddy!
Mario you’re dealing, for the most part, with fanboys. You know the type. They live in mom’s basement and play games all day long. Most don’t have jobs and haven’t exercised in years. Some are past their teens but only physically. Don’t expect anything and you won’t be disappointed Mario. They defend Apple and Steve no matter what like they are all good buddies. There is no rational thought process here. Sad.
I take exception to that. I live upstairs, my mom lives down. 😉
the comments of this site have been taken over by trolls and political baiters…
master baiters
If the FBI doesnt already have this info, they can easily get it from their direct link into your Google database record.
That’ll have more info on you than the FBI, CIA, KGB together could ever collect on you.