Microsoft today released the following statement from Tim Cranton, director of Internet Safety Enforcement Programs, at Microsoft Corp.:

"We are pleased to announce today that Microsoft has joined with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and AOL, EarthLink, United Online, and Yahoo! to establish a new Technology Coalition within NCMEC. The Coalition will work to identify and implement advanced technologies to combat child exploitation, and to facilitate information-sharing and cooperation among industry and law enforcement. The Coalition companies are donating a combined initial funding of $1 million in addition to our expertise and experience on these issues. We are convinced that this partnership will make a meaningful contribution to protecting our children from Internet predators and inappropriate online material.

�Microsoft is committed to making the Internet safer for everyone, especially children and families � but no one can do it alone. Partnerships with governments, law enforcement agencies, advocacy groups, and other industry leaders are essential as we all work to combat cybercrime. This opportunity to partner with NCMEC and online industry members is an example of Microsoft�s commitment to protecting children online, and is an important step to help ensure that children enjoy safe online experiences.�