Podcast Summary
Investigation reveals easy access to child sexual abuse imagery on Bing: Despite reports, little action is taken against child sexual abuse imagery on Bing, allowing easy access through specific searches
Despite the widespread availability of child sexual abuse imagery on common search engines like Bing, there is a significant lack of action being taken to address this issue. A recent investigation by The New York Times uncovered this disturbing phenomenon, where individuals could easily access such content through specific searches. The team was tipped off by an individual who stumbled upon the images while looking for bullets on Bing. The Times team was able to replicate the search and document the findings, but they faced legal uncertainties and ethical dilemmas regarding the documentation and reporting of the content. They consulted with the Times' legal team and reported the findings to both the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. However, they received no information back about the reports they submitted, leaving them wondering about the frequency and handling of such reports. This investigation underscores the need for increased awareness and action against the dissemination of child sexual abuse imagery online.
Rise in Reports of Online Child Sexual Abuse: In 2018, over 45 million reports of child sexual abuse images and videos were received, highlighting the urgent need for increased resources and funding to combat this issue.
The issue of online child sexual abuse, which was considered an epidemic a decade ago, has grown exponentially. In 2018 alone, the National Center received over 45,000,000 reports of child sexual abuse images and videos, equivalent to over 120,000 per day. This growth can be attributed to the increasing awareness and adoption of the internet, leading to more reports and law enforcement efforts. However, despite the growing number of reports, resources for investigating and prosecuting these crimes remain insufficient, leaving many victims without the help they need. Additionally, the ease of access to child sexual abuse material online has facilitated a multi-billion dollar market for it. The testimony from victims and law enforcement emphasizes the urgent need for increased funding and resources to combat this issue.
Lack of follow-through on 2008 law to combat child sexual abuse: The 2008 law to secure funding and resources for investigating child sexual abuse has seen little improvement, with only two reports in the past decade and limited funding.
Despite the passing of the 2,008 Protect Our Children Act, intended to secure funding and resources for investigating child sexual abuse, the issue has only worsened due to lack of follow-through and study of the problem. The law, which aimed to secure millions in annual funding and regular reports from the Department of Justice, has seen little improvement in funding and only two reports in the past decade. Even the person who co-wrote the law was unaware of these failings. When reaching out to law enforcement agencies responsible for investigating child sexual abuse, investigative reporters found that they were willing to speak about the issue, likely due to the use of accurate terminology and recognition of the severity of child sexual abuse imagery. However, the lack of attention and resources has left law enforcement struggling to keep up with the growing scale of the problem.
Distinguishing child sexual abuse imagery from adult pornography: Law enforcement prioritizes investigating infant and toddler abuse imagery, leaving older children vulnerable due to high turnover, underfunding, and ethical dilemmas.
The term "child pornography" can be misleading when describing the abuse imagery of children. Law enforcement officials, who deal with these heinous crimes daily, prefer to call it "child sexual abuse imagery" to distinguish it from the legal adult pornography industry. These officers face high levels of turnover, underfunding, and are forced to make tough decisions on prioritizing investigations due to the overwhelming number of reports. They prioritize infants and toddlers, leaving older children vulnerable. The ease of access to this illegal content is also a significant concern, but investigating it comes with ethical dilemmas. Overall, the conversation highlighted the urgency for increased awareness, funding, and resources to combat child sexual abuse imagery effectively.
Tech Companies Allow Access to Child Sexual Abuse Material: Major tech companies like Microsoft, Facebook, Kik, Tumblr, Google Drive, and Dropbox allow child sexual abuse material to be easily accessible through their platforms despite the existence of technology to identify and remove it.
Despite the existence of technology like "photo DNA" designed to help identify and remove child sexual abuse material from the internet, major tech companies, including Microsoft, are still allowing such content to be easily accessible through their search engines. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children discovered this issue when they found matches of known illegal images on Microsoft-powered search engines during a test. The problem is not limited to Microsoft, as other tech companies like Facebook, Kik, Tumblr, Google Drive, and Dropbox are also implicated in court documents detailing cases of child sexual abuse material trading. The companies are aware of the issue, but it remains unclear what actions they are taking to effectively address it.
President Trump Grants Clemency to Several High-Profile Individuals: Trump granted clemency to Kerik, Milken, and Blagojevich, recalling Blagojevich's TV appearance on 'The Celebrity Apprentice' and after watching his wife's pleas on Fox News. Bloomberg qualified for the debate with 19% support, while Trump continues granting clemency.
President Trump granted clemency to several high-profile individuals, including former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik, financier Michael Milken, and former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. Trump commuted Blagojevich's sentence after reportedly watching his wife's pleas on Fox News and recalling his brief appearance on Trump's old TV show, "The Celebrity Apprentice." Meanwhile, in the Democratic primary race, Michael Bloomberg qualified for the upcoming debate after a new poll showed him in second place with 19% support. This comes as Trump continues to grant clemency to individuals, while Bloomberg gains momentum in the polls.
