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“Underlying every sexually explicit image or video of a child is abuse, rape, molestation, and/or exploitation. The production of CSAM creates a permanent record of the child’s victimization.”
-US Dept. of Justice [1A]
The US Dept. of Justice defines Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor under the age of 18, in other words, child pornography [1B]. Visual depictions would include photos, videos, live streaming, and digital or computer generated images (including AI-generated content) indistinguishable from an actual minor [2].
Scope
Due to rapid technological changes, online child sexual exploitation is daily increasing in scale and complexity [1C]. The violence and sadistic content depicted in CSAM have increased as well [1D].
Child pornography is readily available through virtually every internet technology, including social networking platforms, file-sharing sites, gaming devices, and mobile apps [1E].
On the Dark Web, where anonymity and encryption make it more difficult to trace perpetrators, a single active website dedicated to the sexual abuse of children had over 2.5 million registered users as of 2021 [1F]. The same year the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received nearly 30 million reports of suspected online child exploitation [1G].
Smartphones
Modern smartphones are the ideal child exploitation tool for offenders [1H]. Smartphones can be used to photograph, record, or watch live child sexual abuse. They can both store child pornography, and access such stored pornography remotely. They can connect to other offenders worldwide to receive or distribute child pornography, through an ever expanding variety of apps.
Grooming (Manipulation)
Perpetrators – who can range from peers to members of organized crime – may produce CSAM in person. Increasingly, however, they groom children and teens to engage in sexually explicit behavior online.
Offenders manipulate children by taking advantage of their natural fear of consequences from parents/guardians, school officials, and law enforcement [1I]. This can result in a child being extorted, i.e. threatened with physical harm or legal repercussions, or blackmailed, i.e. threatened with the disclosure of secrets to family and friends, to create additional CSAM or pay a ransom.
In some cases, children have become desperate enough to commit suicide [1J].
Once an image or video of CSAM is posted online, it can be immediately circulated around the globe, and traded internationally [1K]. While a given image or video can be removed from a particular website, it cannot be effectively eradicated. As a result, CSAM leaves a lifetime of grief in its wake.
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[1A through 1K] US Dept. of Justice, “Child Sexual Abuse Material”, https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-06/child_sexual_abuse_material_2.pdf.
[2] Wikimedia Foundation, “Wikimedia Foundation Combating Online Child Exploitation Policy”, https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Policy:Wikimedia_Foundation_Combating_Online_Child_Exploitation_Policy.
This series will conclude next week.
Class action suits has been filed against the University of Michigan and former coach Matt Weiss for negligence, data breach, and emotional distress. Weiss is alleged to have illegally accessed the personal info and photos of over 150,000 students at over 100 colleges. Criminal charges are, also, pending.
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
Every parent’s nightmare…
In my opinion, the only way is to communicate with one’s children the possible dangers of the Dark Web. In my experience, children can be very audacious in exploring every dark corner they have spotted and haven’t been warned about.
You are so right, Hubert. Children cannot be blamed for curiosity. Parents must be vigilant on their behalf.
I knew this was an issue–seems like every other news headline involves an arrest related to this–but I was unaware of how large an issue.
I can imagine there’s an element of whack-a-mole for authorities, but there are apps for this???? It seems to me that there are few things the population agrees on, but child sex content and abuse should be one of them. I would like to see the proper resources allocated to really attack this issue. If we can’t get this stopped, what does it say about everything else?
Thank you for the education, Anna.
–Scott
Thank you so much for reading, Scott.
Don’t forget to include Planned Parenthood among the groomers!😉
So right, CA.
Of the many tragedies associated with this subject is the fact that parents are unable to completely shield their children from online sexual predators. That said, parents must take a proactive approach by educating their children AND ensuring they have access to their child’s online activities. In this day and age of such abhorrent behavior the child’s right to privacy takes a back seat to their safety, even if that means parents must parent instead of only being their child’s friend.
Well said, Ron.
ugh – this is so unbearably sad… as the mother of two young girls… it’s terrifying! Linda xx
Your girls are fortunate to have you, Linda. ❤
I hope so – I was lucky to have great parents – sending good wishes to all those who are less fortunate, L xx
Thank you Anna for this post
CSAM is a scary development in humanity
Initially the internet was seen as a positive change for humanity
The opportunity to connect and to further science and research
Alas, what you have revealed is a terrible outcome
God knows what will happen 🙏
For all the benefits of the internet, that it has opened wide the door to such depravity and abuse is sickening. The AI-generated manipulation of images is also very troubling and something I’m only recently becoming aware of as more and more lawsuits are filed.
It is tragic that the technology so many applaud has such evil aspects.
We live in dark times
So true. That makes it all the more important that we preserve the light.
Yes, life is precious 🙏