Federal investigators are expanding access to an app aimed at stopping child predators which has been available to iOS device users for the past year.
The app, called Operation Predator, was first released to the Apple App Store in September 2013 and is now being expanded to include Spanish language versions and Android versions.
"This app is one piece of our commitment to ensuring child predators have absolutely nowhere to hide," said Thomas Winkowski, acting Immigration and Custom Enforcement director, in a statement.
The app essentially allows users to receive notifications and alerts about wanted predators and share the information on social media platforms. Users can also pass along tips by filling out an online form. So far, the app has been downloaded 93,000 times.
"This app puts that information in someone's hand immediately," said agent Nathan Emery. "So we are immediately able to respond and able to rescue that victim and get that child, get that person, out of harm's way."
When the app was first released it led to an arrest within 36 hours.
The agency uses the app to post things like pictures and profiles of fugitives and things like last known addresses or any other relevant information they might have about someone whose identity is unknown.
"Sometimes it will be a picture of a tattoo, where we say, if you've seen this on the right bicep, we're interested in that information," said Bruce Foucart, a special agent in charge of homeland security investigations in Boston.
Operation Predator in general has been around since 2003 and since then has managed to arrest over 10,000 individuals for crimes including production or distribution of child pornography and sex trafficking.
"That direct involvement has been extremely helpful in making a great deal of these arrests," continued Emery, referring to the involvement of those using the app.
In April authorities used tips from the app to arrest a Delano, Calif., man in Mexicala, Mexico. Michael David Wilson was arrested when a man in Mexico alerted authorities of his whereabouts using the apps. Wilson had been wanted, having fled the U.S. after being charged with receiving and distributing child pornography in July 2013. After authorities were unable to find him, his photos were posted on the app, leading eventually to his arrest.
The app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The more who download the app and contribute to finding predators, the more predators that are likely to be found and charged.
