Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SR0005

SR0005 LRB104 07335 ECR 17375 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On January 1, 1983, the Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol, or TCP/IP, was officially adopted by the United States as a communication model that set standards for how data could be transmitted between multiple computer networks; this date is commonly recognized as the birthday of the internet; and

WHEREAS, In December of 1990, the World Wide Web was created by computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee, beginning a new era of information sharing and communication that has touched every aspect of human life and spread to every corner of the globe; and

WHEREAS, Since 1990, the internet has benefited humanity in many ways, including increased economic development, increased communication between different people and cultures, rapid transmission of new ideas, critical news, information, and scientific breakthroughs, improved government services, and expansion of educational opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Along with the innumerable benefits of the internet, this invaluable tool has also been used by many to bring harm, such as cyberattacks, ransomware, online threats and intimidation, and the spread of misinformation, along with great societal challenges such as increased social isolation, decreased time outside and in nature, decreased in-person interaction, and unhealthy distractions and addictions; and

WHEREAS, Our youth today have grown up alongside rapid technological developments and have almost constant access to the internet; this access has allowed our youth to experience some of the great benefits of the internet but has also resulted in our youth being highly vulnerable to the dangerous and harmful aspects of the internet; and

WHEREAS, Our youth today are exposed to online cyberbullying, misinformation, disturbing and psychologically harmful content, misinformation, increased mental health issues, addiction, and social isolation; these threats are only growing as technology and internet use rapidly expands and evolves in our modern technological age; and

WHEREAS, The State has a responsibility to provide for an efficient system of high quality public educational instructions and services; in providing this high quality public education to all students, it is the policy of this State to protect all Illinois residents, in particular our youth, from deceptive and unsafe communications, online threats and cyberbullying, online extortion, identity theft, misinformation, and illicit activity online; and

WHEREAS, In order to protect our youth and prepare them for a healthy, secure, and prosperous future, it is imperative that our State's elementary and secondary school system provide a high quality education to all students, parents, and educators on online safety and legal and social repercussions of illicit online behavior; and

WHEREAS, Organizations such as the Illinois Judges Association have worked tirelessly to provide online safety education directly to students, parents, and educators in elementary and secondary schools; this education includes, but is not limited to, preventing and reporting incidents of cyberbullying, illicit activity, and unsafe behavior online and the legal repercussions for illicit online actions; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the work of organizations such as the Illinois Judges Association in educating our youth, parents, and schools about remaining safe and vigilant in the rapidly changing online environment of today and seek to expand this essential online safety education to all students, parents, and schools in our State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize the value of collaboration between elementary and secondary schools in Illinois and the Illinois Judges Association, community organizations, and similar entities to provide comprehensive online safety education to all students, parents, and educators; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support school districts and organizations in efforts to provide online safety to students, parents, and educators of elementary and secondary schools in Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the offices of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the Illinois State Police, and the Illinois Judges Association.