Putting Children Above Profits
The commercial exploitation of children online continues to be a public concern, especially as reports of online abuse and enticement have increased dramatically during COVID-19. The distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is an area Congress must address through legislation. The EARN IT Act of 2020 would remove the immunity provision which currently gives companies the ability to ignore harmful sexual content on their platforms. Removing this provision increases corporate responsibility and enables survivors to seek justice through civil recourse. Another important component of this bill is the establishment of a National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention. The commission would be charged with recommending best practices related to identifying and reporting online child sexual exploitation. The EARN IT Act is a monumental step in the right direction to address the online exploitation of kids and put the safety and health of our children above company profits.
As we await legislative action, advocates and survivors of online exploitation have filed lawsuits against MindGeek, the parent company to PornHub, for knowingly allowing child pornography to consistently cycle on its platform. The company removed 10 million videos after a New York Times expose last year, marking a shift in the movement to monitor and hold technology companies responsible for harmful and illegal material.
ECPAT-USA will continue to advocate for bold and transformative legislation that seeks to protect children from online exploitation. Too many children are faced with these harmful dehumanizing realities, and it is important we ensure every child feels safe and supported.
Learn more about cases related to sex trafficking across the country that made headlines this month:
Bristol Man Charged with Attempting to Sex Traffic Minor, Distributing Child Pornography - A 60-year-old Connecticut man has been charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses related to his attempt to engage in commercial sex with a minor.
United States Attorney’s Office Launches Law Enforcement Task Force Focused on Human Trafficking - New York Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon announced that her office, together with federal, state, and local law enforcement, has launched a law enforcement task force focused on combating human trafficking.
San Diego Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of Children - A San Diego man pleaded guilty in federal court to the sex trafficking of children, admitting that he knowingly recruited, advertised, and solicited teenage girls and women to engage in commercial sex acts.
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