Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the hosting of a “Protecting Kids Online Town Hall” in Chesapeake, Virginia. The event aimed to address online threats to children and provide parents with practical tools for safeguarding their children online. Participants included representatives from the Chesapeake Police Department (PD), Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Enough Is Enough (EIE).
According to a news release by Enough Is Enough, the town hall was moderated by EIE CEO Donna Rice Hughes and featured panelists such as Chesapeake Police Chief Mark Solesky, ICAC Detective Heather Rinus, and HSI Victim Witness Specialist Deanna Wallace. The event was organized with support from Bible World Church and focused on equipping families to protect children from online exploitation. It also highlighted ongoing collaboration between the Attorney General’s Office and Enough Is Enough on statewide child safety initiatives.
The town hall addressed various online safety risks for children, including social media use, artificial intelligence exploitation, sextortion, and human trafficking. According to an event recording by Bible World Church on YouTube, panelists discussed how apps and AI can expose minors to harmful content and behaviors, emphasizing the need for parental involvement and preventive measures.
Speakers at the event provided guidance on setting boundaries for device use, delaying access to internet-connected technology, and monitoring children’s online activity. They also shared resources for reporting suspected crimes through local law enforcement agencies, Homeland Security, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The emphasis was placed on coordinated efforts to protect children in the digital environment.
Jason Miyares is Virginia’s 48th Attorney General and holds the distinction of being the first Hispanic and first child of an immigrant elected to statewide office in Virginia. Before his election as Attorney General in 2021, Miyares served three terms in the Virginia House of Delegates and worked as a prosecutor in Virginia Beach. As Attorney General, he leads the Commonwealth’s law firm representing state agencies while overseeing criminal investigations among other responsibilities.
