Anvil Mobile: Safer texting for children as bullies and predators move to mobile

Anvil Mobile launches new Simply Safe SIM for real-time monitoring of text messages for children and vulnerable adults

With bullies and sexual predators increasingly moving from the Internet to mobile phones, the new Simply Safe SIM from Anvil Mobile automatically scans every text message sent and received to identify potential risks to children or vulnerable adults. With some 90% of under 16 year olds now owning a mobile phone and 1 in 7 children aged between 11 to 19 claiming to have been bullied by text, the new Anvil solution sends an alert by SMS or email to a parent, guardian or carer if abusive language and possible bullying or predatory behaviour is detected.

Unlike PCs or laptops that are often shared and in open spaces, mobile phones are very personal devices that can be always on and not easy to monitor physically - making them an ideal target for bullies and predators. Simply Safe now offers protection without intrusion or a breakdown of trust. Only text messages that are considered potentially dangerous can be viewed by the parent or guardian when they are alerted to log-in to the secure TxtSafer message site. Future text messages can be blocked from suspect individuals and also stored for possible investigations by the police or schools.

Simply Safe is the first SIM-based solution and works on most 3G unlocked phones without the need to install any software. It uses the leading-edge profiling technology from Crisp Thinking that is already trusted by popular online games sites and communities. Rated as the most reliable technology of its kind by the University of Cambridge with a 98.4% accuracy in the detection of online grooming, this is the first time Crisp’s TxtSafer advanced software has been used on mobiles.

More than one SIM can be monitored through the same controls and Anvil can also provide additional protection with mobile phone call recording to capture any abusive or threatening voice calls. In addition, it is possible to assign a local geographic number to the mobile SIM.  By presenting what looks like a home number, potential abusers and predators will be deterred under the belief that the call is more likely to be intercepted.

“Parents are under increasing pressure to provide children as young as five with mobile phones at the same time as there is increasing concern about mobile bullying and grooming,” said Ian Philip, CEO at Anvil Mobile. “Simply Safe provides parents with the safety and reassurance they need while giving their children the freedom to use their phones.”

“But it’s not just children that are at risk; disabled people along with ethnic, religious and sexual minorities and even certain professions such as social workers and teachers can also be vulnerable,” adds Philip. “Whatever the reason, there is a need for a simple system that protects mobile users and provides the evidence for action to be taken if required.”

About Anvil Mobile
Anvil Mobile is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) founded specifically to bring a new generation of mobile SIMs and applications to market. With coverage provided by 3 UK and intelligent applications from aql, Anvil delivers a wide range of valuable features on a 3G SIM including land line numbers and calls at landline rates, text scanning and profiling and voice call recording. The Anvil platform is centred in London and Leeds and Anvil Mobile is headquartered in Essex and Cheshire, with business partners and resellers throughout the UK.

For more information visit www.anvilmobile.com or call 01799 252000

About Crisp Thinking
Crisp® is the foremost expert on the dangers of online grooming and internet bullying within children’s online experiences covering social networks, instant messaging to online games. Since 2005, its specialist technology has been identifying sexually inappropriate, threatening and abusive content and relationships across millions of online conversations, protecting thousands of children, every day.

Crisp® analyses massive amounts of message traffic daily and see the threats emerging before anyone else. Its analysis engines are constantly updated to detect these new behaviours, use of languages and slang, as well as new abuse tactics and provide its end users with the most up-to-date online child safety service available today.

For more information visit www.crispthinking.com

Note to editors: the reference to the 1 in 7 children aged between 11 to 19 claiming to have been bullied by text is taken from the last known study in this area undertaken by the Action For Children Charity in 2005. While we realise that this is some time ago, it can be assumed that the figures in the report are likely to have increased.

Issued by: 
Peter Rennison / Allie Andrews
PRPR
Tel: 01442 245030
pr@prpr.co.uk / allie@prpr.co.uk