Prior to the formation of Cyberangels in 1995, a volunteer organization called the Guardian Angels was already patrolling the streets and subways of New York. Group members were easily recognized because of their distinctive red berets. The group's founder, Curtis Sliwa, got the inspiration to take their efforts into cyberspace while working as a radio talk show host for WABC in New York. A woman called in asking him about his plans for cyberspace. He took up the challenge and appointed a few Guardian Angels to create the first neighborhood watch in cyberspace, the Cyberangels.
In the beginning, the Cybernangels primarily dealt with helping women who were being harrassed on IRQ (Internet Relay Chat). As the Internet has grown and evolved, however, so have the Cyberangels. Their focus is now directed to the Web rather than IRQ and issues like pedophilia, child pornography, privacy and online crime are also addressed. They have international divisions and multi-language capability. The also cooperate closely with both the FBI and Interpol.
Their current mission is divided into three areas of activity:
- Prevention through education.
- Assistance of victims by helping to trace and identify the perpetrators of online crime.
- Monitoring of Internet legal issues that affect the public.
Since their formation, they have received several honors:
- Their Net Patrol program was honored by the Mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, by a proclamation naming August 15th 1998 Guardian Angel Day in New York City.
- Cyberangels was recognized by the Points of Light Foundation, as one of the select recipients of the 1998 President's Service Award, which was presented at the White House in October, 1999.
- Cyberangels has been featured in leading magazines, such as Reader's Digest (April 2000), Biography, TV Guide, Newsweek, Cosmopolitan, YM Magazine, Playboy, Family Circle, French Elle, The Sunday Times Magazine (London), Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping and Family PC Magazine. We have also been included in national network television and news programs, such as 20/20, CNN, Good Morning America, The Early Show, Today Weekend, Extra! and ABC's television specials.
You can learn more their organization or request their assistance by visiting their Website at http://www.cyberangels.org/.
