National Center on Sexual Exploitation

In her latest op-ed for The Hill, NCOSE’s SVP Haley McNamara writes: “Section 230 is the greatest enabler of online sexual exploitation.” This outdated law gives tech companies broad immunity, even when they knowingly or recklessly allow child sexual abuse and sex trafficking to happen on their platforms. That’s why Section 230 was named to the 2025 Dirty Dozen List—not to call out companies, but to spotlight 12 survivors who have been denied justice because of this law. If we want to protect children and stop mass-scale exploitation online, Congress must repeal Section 230. 🛑 Read the 12 stories and take action: DirtyDozenList.com 📰 Read the op-ed: https://lnkd.in/gg3v2ak3 #DirtyDozenList #Repeal230 #OnlineSafety #BigTechAccountability #JusticeForSurvivors #NCOSE #TheHill

💭 Imagine your child comes to you wondering if they can download social media. They are too young for the age limit, so you tell them to wait a few years. A few months go by, and they reluctantly tell you they downloaded it anyway, and something bad happened— a strange man began asking them for sexually explicit images and demanding money.💔 How was she able to download it without your permission? Where was the age verification protecting her? How did this predator find her so easily? ⚠️ Unfortunately, this can happen to any parents because app stores have inadequate safety measures to protect and verify their users. 🤝 Fortunately, the App Store Accountability Act has been introduced to strengthen these features. The act would require parental consent, accurate age ratings, and verify users’ age before the option to download.💙 🔗 To read more about this act and the steps taken to pass it, please click this link: https://lnkd.in/ewr3Tcwn #AppStoreAccountability #EndExploitation #NCOSEBlog #StrongerSafetyMeasures

“Children being the targets of this deepfake technology is our worst nightmare.” In the latest 'Ending Exploitation Podcast', Haley McNamara and Danielle Bianculli Pinter expose how artificial intelligence and deepfake technology are rapidly being used in sexual exploitation, particularly targeting teens and children. 🔍 10% of teens say they’ve seen deepfake porn of someone they know 📱 Apple, Google, Meta, and TikTok are allowing ads for apps like 'AI Kissing' to flourish This is not just a tech issue, it’s a child protection crisis. 🎧 Tune in for insight into how deepfakes are reshaping exploitation and fueling desensitization: https://lnkd.in/emQwGF4p Ways to TAKE ACTION: ✍️ Urge Congress to pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act: https://lnkd.in/e-3r2MNe 📱 Urge Apple and Google to remove AI deepfake apps: https://lnkd.in/eaXsMR5d #ChildSafety #AIethics #OnlineSafety #Deepfakes #ArtificialIntelligence #TechPolicy #EndExploitation #NCOSE #TAKEITDOWNAct

⚠️J.B., who was sex trafficked as a minor, was repeatedly raped in hotel rooms arranged through Craigslist, where her trafficker advertised her.⚠️ At one point, a man pointed a gun at her and then raped her in his car. All of this was made possible through Craigslist.💔 🚨When J.B. brought her claims to court, the court held that Craigslist had immunity under Section 230, and she could move no further in the case.😡 J.B. could not rely on FOSTA to overcome Craigslist’s Section 230 immunity. 🗣️ This year’s Dirty Dozen List is focused on Section 230 and the lack of protections for victims of sexual exploitation. Please visit dirtydozenlist.com to read all 12 stories and learn exactly how Section 230 is facilitating online exploitation. #DirtyDozenList #EndExploitation #RepealSection230 #NCOSE

📣 Save the Date: May 13 | 3 PM ET We’re proud to announce the launch of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation’s latest report: “Not A Fantasy: How the Pornography Industry Exploits Image-Based Sexual Abuse in Real Life.” This timely report exposes how major pornography platforms Pornhub, OnlyFans, XVideos, and others—facilitate and monetize image-based sexual abuse (IBSA). It also examines how AI and emerging tech are worsening this crisis. Join us in Washington, DC, or virtually via YouTube livestream for an event featuring survivor voices, expert analysis, and actionable policy recommendations. A networking hour will follow the in-person program. Let’s dismantle the systems that enable this exploitation and hold corporations accountable. 🔗 Register here: NotAFantasy.Org #IBSA #Policy #TechAccountability #EndExploitation #NCOSE #NotAFantasy

💬While researching the safety features of Discord, NCOSE researchers discovered they were able to send sexually explicit content from an adult account to an unconnected 13-year-old account, and no warnings or resources were displayed.😡 ⚠️To be clear, these researchers did not perpetuate the harm that Discord causes— the account was not connected to a real 13-year-old.⚠️ Children can access this dangerous app with nearly no restriction, leaving them extremely vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.💔 Tech companies frequently declare that they prioritize the safety of their users, but evidence proves their inadequate safety measures. To learn more about Discord’s harmful practices and how you can help demand change, please click this link: https://bit.ly/42Vsf8L 🛑This is not an isolated event. We also encourage you to visit dirtydozenlist.com to read about the harmful immunity platforms like Discord continue to receive‼️ #NCOSEBlog #EndExploitation #ProtectKidsNotProfit

💭 In a special episode of the Ending Sexploitation podcast, host Haley McNamara joins Senior Vice President and Director of the NCOSE Law Center Dani Pinter to discuss this year’s Dirty Dozen List campaign.💙 This year’s list takes on a new approach, illustrated by the story of John Doe. At 15 years old, Doe downloaded and created an account on the 18+ dating app, Grindr. Despite him being a minor, there was no age verification process in place. 😡 Almost immediately, Grindr matched Doe with four adult males. When he met up with the men in person, he was sexually assaulted several times.💔 The root cause is Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, effectively providing Big Tech with a massive shield that deflects any accountability. “Tech companies are not in the business of being good people. They are in the business of making money,” said Pinter. 🔗Please visit https://lnkd.in/dHaiEVYG to read the podcast episode recap or our YouTube channel to hear more of Pinter and McNamara’s conversation! #Repeal230 #EndingSexploitationPodcast #EndExploitation #NCOSE #NCOSEBlog

🗣️ “Free speech is often used, in this debate, by tech as a sword. The First Amendment limits the government, not a private company.”👏 In a briefing discussing the 2025 Dirty Dozen List announcement, Mary Graw Leary joined as a legal expert to discuss concerns around repealing 230. Alongside Leary were several other legal experts, an impact panel, and a survivor parent all bringing in different perspectives on the dangers of Section 230.🤝 We encourage you to visit our website, dirtydozenlist.com, and read the 2025 Dirty Dozen List page for more information.💙 #Repeal230 #EndExploitation #2025DDL

The dark escalation of pornography consumption can be seen in one magazine collection (Full podcast episode here: https://lnkd.in/e3kHqX6P)

Demand surge fuels child exploitation and profitability for perpetrators #ProtectKids #EndSexualExploitation (Full podcast episode here: https://lnkd.in/e3kHqX6P)