What? Vexes? The company reports millions of photos and videos of suspected child sexual abuse each year. But when ages are unclear, young people are treated as adults and the images are not reported to the authorities.
Read more. This is criminal.
The abuse took place in a virtual world but it felt real to her, and this kind of story is causing severe headaches for architects of the metaverse — the 3D, immersive version of the internet being developed by the likes of Microsoft and Meta.
“I entered the shared space and almost immediately three or four male avatars came very close to me, so there was a sense of entrapment,” Patel told AFP.
“Their voices started verbally and sexually harassing me, with sexual innuendos,” said the London-based entrepreneur.
“They touched and they groped my avatar without my consent. And while they were doing that, another avatar was taking selfie photos.”
Read more.
Learn more and how you can help organizations make a difference. Today more than ever. We need all of you. We cannot do this alone.
The month of April and every month, needs to be known as Child Abuse Prevention Month. April is a time to recognize the importance of communities working together to strengthen families & prevent child abuse & neglect. #BeAWarrior
#CommunityCreatesChange Call
Learn more and recogognize the signs of abuse and what you can do. Always call 911 immediately if you know of or see anything.
During the month of April, we recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month (NCAPM) and the importance of communities working together to help families thrive and prevent child maltreatment. Throughout the year, communities are encouraged to increase awareness about child and family well-being and work together to implement effective strategies that support families and prevent child abuse and neglect.
NCAPM activities are implemented in partnership with our National Child Abuse Prevention Partner Organizations and the Federal Inter-Agency Work Group on Child Abuse and Neglect.
NCAPM and other Federal child abuse-related activities are authorized by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). CAPTA provides funding to States to support prevention, assessment, investigation, prosecution, and treatment of child maltreatment. It also provides grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations, including Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, for demonstration programs and projects. About CAPTA: A Legislative History provides more information about this important legislation.
Once upon a time, Americans thought of sex trafficking as a tragedy that happened in other countries. When they did begin to recognize that it happens in our country, too, they assumed it was only happening in the shadiest areas of big cities.
Even with this increased awareness, Americans generally remain largely unaware of a population affected by sex trafficking at an alarming rate: people with intellectual disabilities.
Narrow the data to sex crimes and you find that children and youth with intellectual disabilities are at higher risk for sexual abuse and assault than their nondisabled peers. And now there is evidence that this paradigm extends to the world of sex trafficking as well. Dr. Joan A. Reid of the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg cites a study that revealed that, of 54 reviewed sex trafficking cases in Florida between 2007 and 2014, one-third of the cases involved girls with intellectual disabilities.
Read more.
Eleanor Gaetan -This article was posted 09/25/2020 and updated 01/31/2022 in conjunction with the reintroduction of the EARN IT Act.
There is a lot of misinformation being spread by the technology industry regarding the EARN IT Act, reintroduced on January 31, 2022 by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham together with a raft of other Senators, Democrats and Republicans.
In the face of an explosion of child sexual abuse material (CSAM, aka child pornography) being distributed and consumed online, the EARN IT Act holds technology companies accountable if they aid and abet the distribution and/or consumption of child sexual abuse material.
The National Center on Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a strong supporter.
Big Tech opposes the EARN IT Act because it wants to preserve the blanket legal immunity U.S. courts have said digital platforms currently have. The problem is, Big Tech has not earned the right to immunity.
Read more.
Stay tuned for more exciting details but Save the Date! May 12, 2022 at 6:30PM.
Check out LifeWay Network and Lynn’s Warriors to buy your tickets. I will be speaking about becoming a “Warrior.” What else. This is your chance to support survivors. Community creates change. We can do this. We must do this. We are Warriors.
Engage. Educate. Empower.
This past Saturday, March 26, the new film #TheLostGirls, addressed the issue of sex trafficking, aired on @lifetimetv at 8/7c. Veteran Producer Julia Verdin says she is glad to have this chance further raising awareness of this issue and is deeply grateful to her team for their hard work to make this project happen.
The film shows the harrowing story of 17-year-old Angie who was befriended by a good looking teen new to her area promising to help her music career and lured into a sex trafficked ring.
Look at your local listings for its re-airing on Lifetime.
Movie trailer for “The Lost Girls”
https://play.mylifetime.com/movies/the-lost-girls/preview-the-lost-girls
Once upon a time, Americans thought of sex trafficking as a tragedy that happened in other countries. When they did begin to recognize that it happens in our country, too, they assumed it was only happening in the shadiest areas of big cities.
Even with this increased awareness, Americans generally remain largely unaware of a population affected by sex trafficking at an alarming rate: people with intellectual disabilities.
Read more here.
