New Kent Sheriff’s Office, school board forewarns of dangerous app

New Kent Sheriff’s Office and New Kent public schools are warning parents and guardians about a dangerous phone/tablet app that may reveal specific information about their child and location.

Superintendent of schools Rick Richardson released a letter during the June 16 work session on the downloadable app “Streetchat.” The free app can be downloaded on any device, but there are serious risks.

According to the letter, the app is very specific about the location and area where a child is in, even the school he/she attends. The app also is able to download photos (including pornographic), and can be seen by others. While the app claims to have a zero-tolerance policy for graphic photos, harassment, and bullying, enforcing it is difficult.

School resource officer Heath Jenkins recently downloaded the app to learn about it for the sheriff’s department, with grave concerns about the information it relayed.

“The moment I downloaded it, it was able to pinpoint my exact location, along with the physical address,” he said. “It only took mere moments but they had the information.”

According to Jenkins, no students from New Kent school systems have enlisted in the app. However, Richardson added the app can have more severe consequences than just privacy disclosure.

“This app has been responsible for several felony prosecutions,” the superintendent said. “There have been cases where child pornography has been found on the site despite the policy.”

The school and sheriff’s office have presented internet safety programs for parents and citizens and continue to encourage the community to take advantage of it.

“We strongly encourage your children not to place nude photographs of themselves or someone else on the internet,” added Richardson. “Colleges and employers are using the internet to look for information about their future students and/or employees.”

Jenkins added one more comment to forewarn students of how easily the app can be tracked back to them.

“If the app can find you just as easily, then you know the police and other authority figures can monitor your actions as well,” he concluded.