Florida officials have been working to improve school safety with initiatives like the FortifyFL app, which allows students to report suspicious activity anonymously. However, the app has unintentionally led to a rise in false tips, creating confusion for law enforcement and school officials. In response, the state has enacted stricter policies to hold students—and potentially their parents—accountable for submitting bogus threats.
John Newman, the security chief for Hillsborough County Schools, noted a staggering 300% increase in false tips just two weeks before Hurricane Helene, making it harder for law enforcement to distinguish between legitimate threats and fake ones. As a result, fifteen students in Hillsborough County alone have been charged with felonies for submitting false tips this fall.
To combat the issue, the State Board of Education has instructed school districts to educate parents about the FortifyFL app and the serious consequences of false reports. Parents are urged to stay vigilant about their children’s online activity, including monitoring their social media, tablets, computers, and cell phones.
Newman delivered a clear warning to students: “If you knowingly make a false threat on FortifyFL, you will be charged criminally and face jail time.”
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