National Center on Sexual Exploitation

🎮 Think Roblox Is Safe for Kids? Think Again. Sarah (pseudonym) thought Roblox was a safe, fun platform for her 9-year-old daughter. Tragically, she discovered the harsh truth: predators use this “children’s game” to groom and exploit young users. Her daughter was lured off Roblox by someone she thought was “cool,” only to face horrific abuse through explicit messages and images. This heartbreaking story is far too common. While Roblox has made some recent safety updates, the platform remains a dangerous environment for millions of children. But there’s hope. This week on 'The Movement', we’re diving into major victories in the fight against sexual exploitation, including: 🔹 Roblox makes overdue updates to parental controls and safety settings—but still falls short of protecting all minors.  🔹 The TAKE IT DOWN Act passes the Senate, bringing hope to survivors of image-based sexual abuse.  🔹 Pam Bondi is nominated for U.S. Attorney General, a proven leader in combating human trafficking.  🔹 NCOSE files an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case defending Texas’ age verification law for pornography websites. We’re making progress, but there’s still work to be done to protect children and hold platforms accountable. 👉 Watch the full episode of 'The Movement' for the inside story on these victories.  💬 Share this post to spread awareness and help protect kids online. #OnlineSafety #ProtectKids #ChildExploitation #Roblox #ImageBasedAbuse #TheMovement #NCOSE

WASHINGTON, DC (December 30, 2024) – The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) mourns the passing of President Jimmy Carter, a leader whose life and legacy embody a deep commitment to dignity and human flourishing. President Carter’s tireless efforts to improve the well-being of people around the world, particularly his focus on combating sexual exploitation, will continue to inspire generations to come. “We are grateful for President Carter’s leadership and dedication to challenge the narrative around prostitution as a ‘profession’ while advocating for holding sex buyers accountable instead of those being exploited,” said Marcel van der Watt, president of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. “This approach, rooted in justice and compassion, treats purchasing and profiting from sexual exploitation as serious crimes, rather than penalizing the victims. These principles have been a guiding force in our work and a cornerstone of his enduring legacy.” “We extend our deepest condolences to the Carter family and The Carter Center and remain honored to continue advancing our shared goals in this fight. President Carter’s legacy calls us to work tirelessly toward a world where every individual is respected, protected, and free from sexual abuse and exploitation.” Karin Ryan Susan Marx The Carter Center National Center on Sexual Exploitation https://lnkd.in/efwxjkVg

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month: Let’s Start 2025 with Purpose At the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), we believe in tackling human trafficking at its root—and at scale. As we kick off 2025, we’re doubling down on our commitment to **mass-scale prevention** to protect individuals and disrupt exploitation systems worldwide. Here’s how we’re driving change:  ✅ Policy Advocacy: Pushing for stronger laws that safeguard the vulnerable and hold exploiters accountable. ✅ Legal Action: Using the power of the courts to challenge systems that enable trafficking. ✅ Corporate Advocacy: Partnering with and pressuring major companies to prioritize human dignity over profit. Human trafficking thrives in silence, inaction, and systemic failures. Together, we can amplify prevention efforts, create lasting change, and ensure a safer future for all. This January, join us in raising awareness, advocating for justice, and supporting policies and actions that stop exploitation before it starts. Let’s make 2025 a year of prevention, protection, and progress. 💪 #HumanTraffickingPreventionMonth #EndExploitation #MassScalePrevention #Advocacy #HumanDignity

This Holiday Season, the Future is in Your Hands At the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, we believe in a world where everyone can live free from sexual exploitation and abuse. This year, our holiday wish list is filled with ambitious goals—and we need you to make them a reality. Here’s what we’re working toward: 🎁 Empowered Survivors: Amplify survivor voices, secure justice, and inspire leadership.  🎁 Kids Thriving Online: Advance legislation like the Kids Online Safety Act to protect children.  🎁 Tech as a Force for Good: Hold platforms accountable for prioritizing safety over profits.  🎁 Corporate Champions: Inspire businesses to lead with dignity and compassion.  🎁 A Growing Community: Welcome new allies to strengthen the movement.  🎁 Sustained Impact: Expand life-changing initiatives and keep the fight going strong.  🎁 Cultural Transformation: Build a world free from sexual abuse and exploitation. 💡 Your generosity makes this work possible. Donate today and DOUBLE your impact through our $50,000 holiday matching grant. Together, we can create a brighter, safer future for everyone. 📅 Give before December 31 to help us reach our goal! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e2aCSUQu #holidaywishlist #postiveimpact #community #endexploitation

Did you know one moment can shape a lifetime? Nick was only 9 years old when he stumbled upon a p*rnographic magazine during a family camping trip. That moment changed the course of his life, leading to years of addiction that began before he even understood what he was exposed to. Now, Nick stands with NCOSE to prevent others from enduring the pain he experienced. As he powerfully says, "I want to see the p*ornography industry come crumbling down." Nick’s story isn’t an isolated one. Today, kids face even greater risks. With one wrong click, they can access unlimited harmful content that they can never unsee. The harm doesn’t stop with the consumer. The industry itself is riddled with violence, trafficking, and exploitation. But together, we can take a stand and fight back. 💬 How do you think we can better protect kids in the digital age? Share your thoughts in the comments. 🔄 If you believe in creating a safer future for children, share this post to spread awareness. #ProtectKids #EndExploitation #ChildSafety #NCOSE #JoinTheMovement #SafeInternet @lailaMickelwait

What if your child’s favorite game was a predator’s playground? Sarah’s 9-year-old daughter thought Roblox was just a fun gaming platform. Instead, she became a target for exploitation. Roblox has made some safety improvements, but predators still find ways to harm children. In this week’s newsletter, NCOSE breaks down:  - The dangers still lurking on Roblox.  - A landmark Senate victory with the TAKE IT DOWN Act. - Pam Bondi’s nomination for U.S. Attorney General.  - A pivotal Supreme Court case on protecting kids online. Don’t miss these critical updates—read the full newsletter and subscribe for the latest in the fight to protect children. #ChildSafety #EndExploitation #OnlineProtection #Roblox 

Major #victory in our class action #lawsuit against Pornhub (Doe v. MG Freesites LTD et al). The Federal Court in Alabama denied Pornhub’s motion for summary judgment and ruled that the pornography giant must face trial on claims of #sextrafficking and possessing, creating, and distributing child sexual abuse material (#CSAM).   The Court rejected Pornhub’s latest effort to escape accountability by asserting Section 230 immunity. #CDA230 is a law that is often misinterpreted as granting immunity to online platforms for distributing harmful content.    The judge's ruling means the Plaintiff, who was exploited as a child on the Pornhub website, and the class of children she represents, will have their day in court. Image created with #Dalle #Traffickinghub #Justice #ListentoSurvivors Laila Mickelwait Danielle Bianculli Pinter Benjamin W. Bull Peter Gentala Christen Price

💔 "I was done with attending funerals." A message from Kindsey Chadwick: "That realization led me to partner with the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE). Before joining NCOSE, I worked in survivor services for victims of sex trafficking. I trained law enforcement and state attorneys, reciting a grim fact: only 8% of trafficking victims ever escape. But one day, I came to a harrowing realization: I was attending more funerals than rescues. It struck me—I was on the wrong side of this fight. I needed to get there before someone became a victim. That’s when I found NCOSE. " At NCOSE, we focus on prevention. Through advocacy, legislation, and litigation, we’re working to dismantle the systems that allow exploitation to thrive. 💔 The choice is ours:  A future of endless funerals, or a future where exploitation ends before it starts. Want to make an impact? Donate today to show your commitment to ending sexual exploitation. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e2aCSUQu #EndExploitation #SexTraffickingPrevention #TakeAction #NCOSE #AntiTrafficking Kindsey Pentecost

🤔If your child walks into a bookstore, convenience store, or supermarket… can they buy pornography? No.🛑 What about online❓ There have been essentially no limitations or restrictions preventing children from accessing pornography online for over twenty years. But the states are pushing back.💪 So far, 19 states have age-verification laws!🎉 👉 However, pornography websites are determined to continue delivering pornography to children, and as a result, they have appealed the Supreme Court of the United States. Texas’s age verification law is being challenged, still they are mounting a compelling defense of its law. Now, a host of amicus— or “a friend of the court”—briefs have been filed with the Supreme Court urging the Court to allow Texas’s age verification law to stay in effect. 🗣️ Stay up to date with the case: The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on January 15th, 2025 🔗 Visit this link to read a more in-depth overview of the case: https://buff.ly/3ZZitSr #NCOSE #EndExploitation #CSAM #Texas #Amicus #Age Verification

#Urgent Push to Pass KOSA to Save Young Lives! Why KOSA? 🤔 KOSA offers the most comprehensive solution of any child protection bill pending before Congress. 🛡️ The bill holds tech companies legally accountable for designing their products to keep children safe. 👶💻 It does this by: ✅ Requiring common-sense safety settings be automatically turned ON for children ⚖️ Establishing a legally actionable duty of care for platforms likely to be accessed by minors 🛠️ Requiring platforms provide safeguards & tools for parents and guardians to protect their children 🔍 Requiring transparency, so companies must disclose their policies and practices around personal data use and minors’ safety Thank you Rep Brandon Guffey for your tireless efforts. Team-up with the National Center on Sexual Exploitation's Isabella Peracchi 🏆 Eleanor Kennelly Gaetan, Ph.D Dawn Hawkins Andrew Young