Due to rising concerns regarding user safety in the UK, Facebook has agreed to offer eight children protection bodies up to one billion free ad slots on its site.

In addition to the ad spots, the social networker is allowing users to report potential criminal activity directly to police. It has also promised to staff a 24-hour hotline which police can contact for emergencies and investigations.

However, Facebook has stopped short of having a ‘panic button’ prominent on other user pages, saying it would initially display a button in its Safety and Help centres and during the ‘report user’ process.

“The investments and partnerships we’ve announced today…
represent the most comprehensive public/private safety initiative since social
networking began in the UK almost a decade ago,” Elliot Schrage,
vice-president of global communications and public policy at Facebook, told Brand Republic.

Facebook has yet to indicate if the concessions would be made on its international websites.