The dark web is a network that specializes in user’s online identity protection. While many internet browsers have employed this cloak for good, it has attracted an unsavory group. Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) distributors are increasingly adopting the dark web as a means of dissemination. In 2021, the 10 most harmful CSAM sites on the marketplace […]
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In an increasingly digitized world, online users have adopted end-to-end encryption as a reliable means of securing sensitive information. This shift has protected journalists from oppressive regimes, everyday users from potential fraud, and children from unwanted attention. However, encryption has also allowed individuals with exploitative intent to harm children without alerting authorities. Most websites forbid the distribution of […]
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In 2016, the international group End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT) put out a comprehensive guideline detailing the correct terminology associated with minor abuse and exploitation. [1] Reports like this are crucial pieces in helping lawmakers understand child abuse and what language to include in regulations. Under the section describing sexual violence, the report says, “From a […]
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The internet has challenged policymakers by introducing numerous harmful actions over a short period. Livestreamed child sexual exploitation (LCSE) is an especially damaging offense that often goes unaddressed due to discovery and prosecution complexities. Currently, no international agreement exists that defines livestreamed child abuse and exploitation. These limitations coupled with rising internet streaming and image capture prevalence, […]
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Child sexting is a behavior that can lead to exploitation practices, such as sextortion. Coordinated sexting education is needed to minimize harm. Sexting involves children sharing self-generated sexual content and sending it to others via mobile phones or the internet.[1]The ability to deliver provocative images to interested parties is an alluring development entrenched in the modern […]
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The internet has revolutionized the way traffickers recruit victims, and children are especially vulnerable. Sex traffickers increasingly turn to social media and online platforms to recruit children for trafficking schemes. In 2020, considering the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the National Human Trafficking Hotline identified a 22% increase in online recruitment into trafficking schemes and reported the internet as […]
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The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a U.S. federal law enacted in 1998 that aims at protecting the online privacy of children under the age of 13.[1] The COPPA regulates the collection of personal information from children under 13 by online services, including websites and applications, such as Minecraft and Fortnite, if they collect […]
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The Internet: A Recruitment Tool for Child Sex Trafficking Although traditional methods of recruitment continue, the internet allows traffickers increased access to a larger number of potential child victims, thereby exposing children to greater risks and dangers. According to the 2021 Federal Human Trafficking Report, more than half (57%) of all criminal trafficking cases involved child victims, […]
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