FBI releases app to assist in finding missing children

Echoing a move made by other government agencies as of late, the FBI on Monday debuted its first in-house mobile application called Child ID. The iOS app aims to give parents a central location to store information about their children in the event they are lost or kidnapped.

The app will store information such as vital statistics and pictures of the child, which then can be easily e-mailed to law enforcement to aid in their investigations. The FBI has also included information on keeping children safe, as well as what to do if your child does indeed go missing.

The FBI stressed that while the app does collect information, it does not send the information to the agency. "All data resides solely on your mobile device unless you need to send it to authorities," it said.

Currently the app is only available for the iOS platform, and can be downloaded now in the App Store. The FBI said it has plans to release Child ID for other platforms, but in all cases it would not charge for it. It also plans to publicize the app through public service announcements to air in the near future.

Both the National Child Identification Program and the American Football Coaches Association would help to get the word out on the app. The AFCA is producing the PSA, but would also publicize its availability at football games around the country.