Firms join forces to protect youngsters

A Yorkshire company which protects children from paedophiles who trawl the internet, has linked up with a telecoms firm to protect young people using mobiles.

Crisp Thinking and mobile telecommunications business aql have developed a service to be used by network provider 3 although it may be rolled out to other networks following its launch this summer.

The product works by picking out from text messages certain words which suggest an adult could be posing as a child.

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Adam Hildreth, founder of Crisp, said: "The technology is unique – aql's ability to pass the text messages sent to and from the handset into our screening engine creates a product that addresses every parent's dilemma – the pros and cons of giving a child a mobile.

"Crisp technology is at the forefront of cyber bully and predator detection and we're excited by the prospect of going mobile."

Adam Beaumont, of aql, said: "Both aql and Crisp are channel based organisations, so the partnership is ideal."

Crisp was founded in Leeds three years ago and employs 30 people. Its software analyses online conversations to identify inappropriate relationships that are started by predators seeking to groom children.

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When Crisp detects a potential grooming conversation, it will alert parents. However, only the parts of conversations Crisp identifies as potentially dangerous can be seen by parents, which protects young people's privacy.

aql was founded by Adam Beaumont in 1998.

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