Through Raven’s advocacy, Florida strengthens child protection by investing in local law enforcement officers who combat online child exploitation.
Following sustained advocacy led by Raven, the State of Florida has approved an annual $3 million in recurring funding to support law enforcement and prioritize the three Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces — reinforcing the state’s long-term commitment to protecting children from online predators.
This marks the first time Florida has designated recurring funding to support the three regional ICAC task forces: the Gainesville Police Department (North), the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office (Central), and the Broward Sheriff’s Office (South). These agencies are designated by the U.S. Department of Justice to lead Florida’s response to online child exploitation.
“With the recent approval of state-appropriated funding for Florida’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces, the Central Florida ICAC Task Force—encompassing 17 counties and 65 affiliate agencies—will be better equipped to combat child exploitation. In 2024 alone, the Central Florida region investigated an alarming 20,000 Cyber Tips,” said the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. “This funding will enable the Task Force to expand staffing and adopt a more proactive, innovative approach to investigations. This new appropriation marks a pivotal step forward in strengthening the fight to protect children across Central Florida.”
Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony, who leads the South Florida ICAC Task Force out of Broward, issued a similar statement: “Our partnership with Raven to secure state funding is critical in protecting our most vulnerable: our children,” said Sheriff Tony. “We know without proper funding, even the most dedicated detectives are left without the most advanced tools they need to protect our children from online predators. Investing in their work is investing in our children’s safety.”
The funding initiative, championed by Raven in partnership with key legislative and law enforcement allies, will empower ICAC Task Forces to deploy advanced technology, expedite investigations, and close the gap between CyberTip reports and rescues—ensuring more children are protected from online sexual exploitation.
“We’re grateful to receive this much-needed recurring state funding, which will significantly enhance our ability to lead and manage the South Florida ICAC Task Force,” said Sgt. Thomas McInerney, Commander of the South Florida ICAC Task Force at the Broward Sheriff’s Office. “With this support, we can better assist our 62 partner law enforcement agencies and boost the efforts of over 420 dedicated task force members working tirelessly to identify and apprehend those who exploit children online. This funding is a big step forward in keeping our communities safer.”
Florida, with one of the highest rates of digital connectivity, sees immense pressure on its child protection systems. Deepfake child sexual abuse material has surged across college campuses and among minors (Thomson Reuters, 2025). Meanwhile, national reports of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) continue to rise, with over 29.2 million CyberTips filed in 2024 (NCMEC).
“Every child deserves to grow up free from exploitation,” said Jenny Dunton, Legislative Director at Raven. “With this new recurring investment, Florida is giving law enforcement the resources they need to move faster and smarter to rescue children and apprehend offenders. We are grateful to see Florida’s leadership step up to prioritize the safety of children across the state.”
Chief Lonnie Scott of the Gainesville Police Department, which leads the North Florida ICAC Task Force, emphasized the impact across the state: “The Gainesville Police Department is happy to see that our elected officials have taken a serious stance and prioritized the fight against child exploitation. This funding will greatly help investigators across the state of Florida and make our communities safer.”
This measure is part of Raven’s broader legislative strategy to proactively address online child exploitation—by advocating for laws that prevent abuse wherever possible and enable swift rescue when prevention fails. Raven remains committed to ensuring that funding follows legislation so law enforcement can act effectively and sustainably to protect children.
For media inquiries, contact:
Brenna Pitman
Director of Development
brenna@raven.us
