Kids Are Using AI to Violate Their Peers – and Microsoft’s GitHub is the Cause

Jessica*, a 15-year old from New Jersey, returned to her history class one day to find a cluster of girls whispering to each other. She approached them to ask what they were discussing. What she heard next was horrifying:  

Boys at her high school were using images of their female peers’ faces and editing them onto AI-generated nude bodies.  

The girls decided to discuss the problem with administrators at the school, but doubtful that she would personally fall victim to this sexually exploitative behavior, Jessica continued to go about her day, focusing on her schoolwork and extra-curriculars. As time went on, she made the devastating discovery that she was one of the girls whom her male classmates had created AI-generated nude photos of.

She came to a stark realization: it could happen to anyone. 

This kind of sexual violation is becoming all too common. And the corporation at the root of the problem is Microsoft's GitHub.

*Name changed

📣ACTION: Urge GitHub to Combat AI-Generated Sexual Abuse Images!

The Sunday Show: New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez on His Lawsuit Against Meta

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez spoke at the 2024 Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation Summit on the need for tech company accountability. Just before his presentation at the Summit, The Sunday Show recorded a compelling podcast episode with him, which we encourage you to watch. 

In this episode, AG Torrez discusses his lawsuit against Meta, claiming they did not implement sufficient practices to protect children from sexual abuse, online solicitation, and human trafficking. The result of this case could have a ripple effect for how Big Tech companies should monitor the behavior and content on their networks.

ABC News: I was groomed by someone I met playing video games online: What I want parents and kids to know

Harrison Hayes was a 12-year-old boy who struggled to make friends, so he found solace and acceptance by making friends through online video games. Or so he thought.

One day, Hayes was befriended by a stranger in an online game, who claimed to be 19-years-old. The two grew closer and Hayes began to refer to him as his "best friend," even though the two had never met in person. When the stranger asked to move their conversations from video games to texting, he started to expose Hayes to pornography and self-harming content. This grooming got progressively worse as the "teenager" would tell Hayes that he was going to commit suicide. After a year of keeping these communications a secret, his finally parents discovered what was going on.

Now, Hayes shares what he wants parents and kids to know. 

📣ACTION: Call on Gaming Platforms to Protect Children!

Roblox, an online gaming platform popular with children, and Discord, a communications app that children frequently use while gaming, are both on this year's Dirty Dozen List. Roblox exposes children to highly sexualized content, including virtual "strip clubs" and rape-themed games. Discord makes it disturbingly easy for predators to groom children by failing to monitor the sexually explicit content shared on the app. Contact these two companies now and urge them to better protect children!

NPR: Will the U.S. go after Telegram, too? Interview with NCOSE's Benjamin Bull

NCOSE's general counsel, Benjamin Bull, sat down with NPR reporter, Bobby Allyn, to offer his thoughts on the recent arrest of the Telegram CEO, Paul Durov.

Durov was arrested by the French authorities over accusations that the platform was being used for illegal activity including distribution of child sexual abuse material. Telegram is featured on this year's Dirty Dozen List, and we have been calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate them. 

📣ACTION: Ask the DOJ to Investigate Telegram for Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Sincerely,