The Pennsylvania State Police rolled out a presentation to educate families about emerging technology, the risks of online gaming and the critical precautions to take to ensure their children can enjoy the Internet safely.

PSP’s comprehensive program, unveiled at the Allegheny County Emergency Services Facility, explored a variety of popular online games and experiences, including the gaming platform Roblox.

Participants learned about the potential risks for young users and the parental controls available to help manage their children’s online activities safely.

“In an age of evolving technology, protecting our youth from online predators must be a top priority,” said Trooper Rocco Gagliardi, public information officer, Troop B. “Our kids should be able to enjoy the fun, educational and creative opportunities the Internet offers. We created this program to do just that by keeping people updated about the latest tactics offenders are using to target innocent children online, while informing them about how to best prevent their loved ones from becoming victims.”

Gagliardi said additional dates and locations for the public to attend PSP’s free online safety program will be announced soon. In the meantime, schools, churches and other community groups across the commonwealth are encouraged to schedule the program by contacting him at rogagliard@pa.gov.

The online safety presentation also included the latest AI tools, detailing how malicious actors exploit people through AI-generated content like deepfake voices and images. Attendees were educated on the warning signs to watch out for and how to teach children to use online technology responsibly.

Protecting children and our most vulnerable populations from online threats is a top priority for the Shapiro administration. Last month, Gov. Josh Shapiro launched a multiagency AI Literacy Toolkit with guidance for kids, parents, teachers and communities on how to safely use AI. View the AI Literacy Toolkit at pa.gov/AIsafety.

Shapiro also created an AI Enforcement Task Force at the Department of State and established a formal complaint and reporting process for AI-powered bots that may be engaging in unlicensed professional practice.

Pennsylvanians can now submit concerns through a dedicated form, hotline and email address, which the task force will evaluate to determine whether certain AI companion technologies are engaging in unlicensed practice under existing law.

The administration will also collaborate closely with Attorney General Dave Sunday to strengthen consumer protections related to AI companion bots.

Through this collaboration, the administration and the Office of Attorney General will share information about complaints and refer cases to the appropriate authorities when necessary.

For more information about the Pennsylvania State Police, visit the PSP website.