Online Sexual Exploitation Creeping Back into U.S. Due to Lack of FOSTA-SESTA Enforcement
The passage of FOSTA-SESTA in 2018 was a major legislative victory for survivors of sex trafficking. It gave survivors a route to justice by providing a civil right of action. It also empowered state Attorney Generals to prosecute websites that facilitate sex trafficking. Furthermore, its impact on the online commercial sexual exploitation landscape was immediate…
Amazon Hosting “Humor” Books About Child Sexual Abuse Grooming
One Reddit user was horrifyingly on the dot about the potential for a certain book series sold on Amazon — comprised of books with titles like Spank the Monkey Lends a Hand and Put Tony’s Nuts in Your Mouth! — accidentally ending up in a children’s library. While these books are technically marketed for adults, there…
Combating Demand is Crucial for Protecting Victims of Prostitution
For advocates and allies in the movement to end sexual exploitation, the arrest of even one sex buyer, pimp, or trafficker is cause for celebration. It’s like Christmas when hundreds, even thousands, of these exploiters are held responsible for their actions. For Marian Hatcher of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) in Chicago, Illinois, “Christmas”…
Mitigating the Public Harms of Pornography in Africa – The Way Forward
The breakthrough made by the Internet in fostering education and development in Africa is astounding. To a great extent the Internet has spurred the continent to follow the march of progress being pursued by the rest of the world. By and large, it has facilitated access to information, education, and communication with ease. Nevertheless, it…
No, Pornography Is Not Feminist.
Is there any kind of pornography that is congruent with feminism? Is it possible for pornography to be feminist? In spite of the research and data that provide a resounding “no,” some porn apologists still attempt to say otherwise. “Any kind of porn can be feminist if everyone involved is having a good time,” one…
VICTORY! TikTok Updated Its Safety Features. Here’s How They Work.
Just a few weeks after our public announcement about TikTok being named to the 2020 Dirty Dozen List, the social media company announced that they would soon begin rolling out improvements to TikTok’s safety features—including some updates we had been advocating for them to make! Although there are still several safety improvements they need to…
It’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Steam is Still Selling Sexual Assault Games
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is an important awareness campaign highlighting the prevalance of sexual assault in our society. Here at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, not only do we recognize sexual assault and violence as a pervasive problem but we also recognize that pornography and pop culture – whether in the…
You Can Make a Difference During Child Abuse Prevention Month
Have you heard the devastating fact that 1 in 10 children will experience child sexual abuse by the time they reach 18 years of age? In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation holds hope that parents and legislators alike will come together to protect children online. We have the…
How We’re Fighting Sexual Exploitation During COVID-19
Sexual exploitation is a tragedy whenever and wherever it occurs. One of the pernicious realities of sexual exploitation is that it does not stop, not even during a global health crisis like the novel coronavirus pandemic of 2020. Not only do sexually exploitative industries, companies, and individuals not stop during crisis, they often try to…
Introducing the 2020 ONLINE Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation Global Summit
For many months, we have been hard at work planning for the 2020 Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation (CESE) Global Summit. This is the linchpin annual event for the worldwide movement to end all forms of sexual exploitation, and every year it is a source that springs forth new partnerships, projects, and victories. However, as…