What and Who is the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

The Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) is a virtual task force with no bricks and mortar to house the many participants. The administrative offices for GICAC are located at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Headquarters. The Director for the Task Force is the Special Agent in Charge of the GBI’s High Technology Investigations Unit (HTIU). Also housed at GBI Headquarters are eight HTIU Special Agents who coordinate Georgia ICAC investigations, along with the cyber tips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NMEC). The GBI also has a Special Agent trained and equipped to conduct Internet crimes against children investigations in Douglas (Southeast Georgia). The Georgia ICAC offers equipment and training to local law enforcement agencies.

Within the GBI’s HTIU is the GBI’s Forensic Computer Laboratory. The laboratory has seven forensic computer specialists (FCS) trained to extract evidence from computer media. One FCS also coordinates the GBI participation with the Georgia Cybersafety Initiative (GaCSI).

Through the Georgia CyberCrime Task Force (GCTF), Georgia ICAC has partnered with many federal agencies, other state agencies and local agencies, to share resources in ICAC investigations and Internet Safety programs. Partners on the investigative side include the FBI, the Secret Service and their Electronic Crime Task Force, Immigration Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.), the State Attorney General’s Office, the Georgia Technology Authority and many local law enforcement agencies and local prosecutor’s offices. Partners with the GaCSI include the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Public Broadcasting Agency, the Georgia Tech Research Institute, and the DeKalb Public School System.

The GaCSI partnership has over one hundred volunteers who have been trained by the GBI, GEMA and GTRI to provide Internet Safety Programs. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) has partnered with the GaCSI to coordinate the efforts of these volunteers. GEMA has six-school safety officers located in different regions across the state. These school safety officers coordinate the requests for Internet Safety presentations with the volunteers from their region.