Tag:

Online Safety

Roblox Let Sexual Predator Target 12-Year-Old NY Girl, Lawsuit Claims Roblox Let Sexual Predator Target 12-Year-Old NY Girl, Lawsuit Claims
Roblox Let Sexual Predator Target 12-Year-Old NY Girl, Lawsuit Claims Roblox is facing a federal lawsuit from the guardian of a 12-year-old New York girl who says the gaming giant put profits over safety, leaving children vulnerable to predators on its platform. The suit – filed on behalf of a Schenectady family in federal court in northern California on Tuesday, Aug. 26 – alleges that Roblox Corporation knowingly designed and marketed its app in a way that exposed children to sexual predators while misrepresenting it as safe for young users. It accuses Roblox of multiple counts, including fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, general negligen…
Spotify Adds Direct Messages For Sharing Songs, Podcasts: How It Works Spotify Adds Direct Messages For Sharing Songs, Podcasts: How It Works
Spotify Adds Direct Messages For Sharing Songs, Podcasts: How It Works There's a new app where you can "Slide" into someone's DMs like a song by the Goo Goo Dolls or Calvin Harris and Frank Ocean. Spotify is rolling out its new Messages feature, the music streaming giant announced on Tuesday, Aug. 26. The messaging tool will help users share their favorite music, podcasts, and audiobooks without leaving the app. Free and Premium users ages 16 and older will start getting access to Messages throughout late August. The one-on-one conversations will allow friends and family to swap tracks, send texts, and react with emojis. Spotify said its direct mess…
Middle School Librarian Shared Child Porn; Had Box Of Kids’ Items, Costumes: DOJ Middle School Librarian Shared Child Porn; Had Box Of Kids’ Items, Costumes: DOJ
Middle School Librarian Shared Child Porn; Had Box Of Kids’ Items, Costumes: DOJ Federal prosecutors say a Longmeadow Public Schools middle school librarian is facing child pornography charges after a months-long undercover investigation. Scott McGinley, 55, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, is accused of distributing child sexual abuse material in an online group called “Little boyz only.” Authorities say that during conversations with undercover officers posing as fellow users, McGinley allegedly disclosed his sexual preference for “boys age 2-12” and “especially 4-7.' The US Attorney for Massachusetts prosecutors say McGinley told the undercover officer he had “students” wh…
YouTube Launches New Tech To Verify Ages Automatically Amid Privacy Concerns YouTube Launches New Tech To Verify Ages Automatically Amid Privacy Concerns
YouTube Launches New Tech To Verify Ages Automatically Amid Privacy Concerns YouTube will begin using artificial intelligence to estimate whether US users are under 18, regardless of the birthdate on their account. Google started using the AI system on Wednesday, Aug. 13. The change will apply safeguards like limiting advertisements and adjusting recommendations to more teen YouTube accounts, even if users entered an adult birthdate. The AI system will analyze signals such as YouTube activity and how long the account has been active. If flagged as under 18, users will get a notification and can verify their age through a government ID, selfie, or credit ca…
Viral Social Media Challenge Leaves 9-Year-Old With Severe Burns; 12-Year-Old Charged (UPDATE) Viral Social Media Challenge Leaves 9-Year-Old With Severe Burns; 12-Year-Old Charged (UPDATE)
Viral Social Media Challenge Leaves 9-Year-Old With Severe Burns; 12-Year-Old Charged (Update) A 12-year-old boy is facing charges after pouring boiling water on his sleeping 9-year-old brother during a social media prank in Lancaster Township, police announced on Thursday, Aug. 7. The incident happened on Tuesday, July 29, when the boy boiled water in a microwave and dumped it on his younger brother while he slept, according to Lancaster Township police. The victim suffered severe burns to his neck and chest and was rushed to the Lehigh Burn Center for treatment, authorities said in a release on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Two days later a 12-year-old was charged with Aggravated Assault and R…
Man Caught On Cruise Ship With Secret Child Porn Folder Charged In Global Exploitation Ring: HS Man Caught On Cruise Ship With Secret Child Porn Folder Charged In Global Exploitation Ring: HS
Man Caught On Cruise Ship With Secret Child Porn Folder Charged In Global Exploitation Ring: HS A Pennsylvania man returning from a cruise was intercepted by U.S. Customs and found with a secret folder of child pornography on his phone, leading to 46 felony charges after investigators uncovered his alleged role in an international child exploitation ring, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele announced on Friday, Aug. 1. Matthew Thomas Pappalardo, 38, of Casselberry Drive, Lower Providence, allegedly used encrypted apps and hidden folders to collect and trade child sexual abuse material while chatting with minors as young as 13, according to a criminal complaint. **WARNI…
635K Instagram, Facebook Accounts Removed For Targeting Children As Meta Adds Safety Tools 635K Instagram, Facebook Accounts Removed For Targeting Children As Meta Adds Safety Tools
635K Instagram, Facebook Accounts Removed For Targeting Children As Meta Adds Safety Tools Meta says it has removed about 635,000 Instagram and Facebook accounts for trying to exploit children as it updates its teen safety features. The tech giant announced changes to its measures aimed at protecting young users in a blog post on Wednesday, July 23. The purge comes as Meta adds new restrictions to accounts run by adults that feature children. In the first half of 2025, Meta said its enforcement teams took down nearly 135,000 Instagram accounts for leaving sexualized comments or requesting sexual images on accounts that primarily feature children under 13.…
‘To Catch A Predator’ Sting: Maryland Suspects Among 16 Arrested In Virginia Child Sex Bust: PD ‘To Catch A Predator’ Sting: Maryland Suspects Among 16 Arrested In Virginia Child Sex Bust: PD
‘To Catch A Predator’ Sting: Maryland Suspects Among 16 Arrested In Virginia Child Sex Bust: PD Sixteen men — including suspects from Virginia, Maryland, and Canada — were busted in a months-long undercover sting targeting online predators in Fairfax County, police announced. Detectives from the Fairfax County Police Department’s Child Exploitation Unit (CEXU) wrapped up the operation this week, arresting 16 suspects who allegedly arranged to meet minors for sex after chatting with undercover officers online, officials said. The men — ages 20 to 65 — showed up in the county, or planned to, expecting to commit sex acts with children. Instead, they were met by detectives from CEXU and t…
Beltsville Fugitive Who Raped Girl, 13, Before Fleeing Country Apprehended, Sheriff Says Beltsville Fugitive Who Raped Girl, 13, Before Fleeing Country Apprehended, Sheriff Says
Beltsville Fugitive Who Raped Girl, 13, Before Fleeing Country Apprehended, Sheriff Says A fugitive wanted to sexually abusing a teen girl and fled the country is back in Maryland to face rape and other offenses, the Charles County Sheriff's Office announced. Franklin Argueta-Marquez, 28, who has no fixed address, was wanted in connection to two counts of rape and sexual offense of a 13-year-old he met online when she was 12, officials say. Argueta-Marquez first reached out to the victim by contacting her through direct messaging on a social media app, according to investigators. He engaged in friendly conversations, and after a few weeks, he was able to convince her to sn…
Maryland Man Tried To Meet ‘Child’ For Sex, Arrested In Online Sting: Police Maryland Man Tried To Meet ‘Child’ For Sex, Arrested In Online Sting: Police
Maryland Man Tried To Meet ‘Child’ For Sex, Arrested In Online Sting: Police A Maryland man thought he was meeting a child for sex. He met the cops instead, authorities said. Joshua Andrew Mills, 35, of Hagerstown, was arrested Wednesday, June 11, after allegedly trying to meet a minor for sex during an undercover sting, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office announced. Detectives with the Digital Investigation and Forensics Unit and the Criminal Investigations Unit posed as underage children online.  Officers engaged with adults through social media apps and chat platforms, investigators said. When suspects “attempted to arrange in-person meetings for illega…
NJ Man Had Sex With Dogs, Possessed 9K Files Of Child Porn: Prosecutor NJ Man Had Sex With Dogs, Possessed 9K Files Of Child Porn: Prosecutor
NJ Man Had Sex With Dogs, Possessed 9K Files Of Child Porn: Prosecutor A 26-year-old Maple Shade man was arrested and charged on Thursday, May 8 with having sex with a Rottweiler, among other offenses, authorities said. Law enforcement began investigating Hunter Roy after receiving a tip that he distributed more than 9,000 files of child pornography, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia  Bradshaw and Maple Shade Police Chief Christopher Fletcher said. Roy was also communicating with an underage boy, with whom he sent child pornography, authorities said. Roy also made videos of himself engaging in sexual acts with a Rottweiler and a smaller dog, tradin…
Criminal Network Targets Kids At Home, FBI Says: What To Know About 764 Criminal Network Targets Kids At Home, FBI Says: What To Know About 764
Criminal Network Targets Kids At Home, FBI Says: What To Know About 764 Federal authorities are intensifying efforts against a disturbing online network known as "764," which they describe as a violent extremist group that targets and exploits children through social media and gaming platforms. Two men have been charged for allegedly leading the enterprise: Leonidas Varagiannis, age 21, a US citizen living in Thessaloniki, Greece, and Prasan Nepal, age 20, of North Carolina.  Varagiannis was arrested on Monday, May 6, in Greece. Nepal was arrested Monday, April 22, in North Carolina and has since made a court appearance. Both are expected to appear in cour…
Man Caught In Undercover Virginia Child Predator Sting Held In Maryland: Sheriff Man Caught In Undercover Virginia Child Predator Sting Held In Maryland: Sheriff
Man Caught In Undercover Virginia Child Predator Sting Held In Maryland: Sheriff Eight men have been arrested in a sweeping sting operation in Loudoun County after investigators say they tried to use social media and chat apps to exploit children under the age of 15. The arrests followed an undercover Internet chat operation carried out during the week of April 21, by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and the Northern Virginia–Washington DC Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The men believed they were talking to underage children on various online platforms, according to investigators. “All were seeking to engage in criminal activity with a child,” authorit…
NJ Prep School Grad, College Golfer Requested Nude Pics From Kids Online: Prosecutor NJ Prep School Grad, College Golfer Requested Nude Pics From Kids Online: Prosecutor
NJ Prep School Grad, College Golfer Requested Nude Pics From Kids Online: Prosecutor A 28-year-old New Jersey man who played college golf was arrested and charged on Wednesday, April 23 with possessing child pornography, authorities said. Investigators began looking into Kevin Kramarski, a Moorestown, NJ resident, after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about his online activities, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw said. The tip included his efforts to purchase child sexual abuse material online and engaging in online chats with juveniles where he requested they send him nude photos, the prosecutor said. Kev…
Sophisticated Phishing Attack Targets Gmail Users: What To Know Sophisticated Phishing Attack Targets Gmail Users: What To Know
Sophisticated Phishing Attack Targets Gmail Users: What To Know A new phishing scam is fooling even tech-savvy Gmail users by disguising itself as a legitimate security alert from Google — with no warning signs from Gmail itself. The scam came to light after developer Nick Johnson shared a warning on social media about a highly convincing phishing email that landed in his inbox.  The message appeared to come from [email protected], Google’s real notification address, and passed standard authentication checks, including the DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) signature.  Gmail offered no alerts, and the message was grouped with actual…
Meta To Limit Instagram Livestreaming For Some Teens: Here's How Meta To Limit Instagram Livestreaming For Some Teens: Here's How
Meta To Limit Instagram Livestreaming For Some Teens: Here's How Younger teens won't be able to go live on Instagram anytime soon unless they have a parent's permission. Meta has banned users under 16 from livestreaming unless approved by a parent, the tech giant said in a blog post on Tuesday, April 9. The change is part of a broader push to expand protections for teen users across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. There are at least 54 million active "Teen Accounts" worldwide, according to Meta. "With these changes, teens under 16 will be prohibited from going Live unless their parents give them permission to do so," Meta said "We'll …
TikTok Adding Amber Alerts To 'For You' Pages: How The App Could Help Save Lives TikTok Adding Amber Alerts To 'For You' Pages: How The App Could Help Save Lives
TikTok Adding Amber Alerts To 'For You' Pages: How The App Could Help Save Lives Amber alerts are now live on TikTok nationwide, putting urgent information about missing children directly in front of millions of users within seconds. TikTok announced it was launching amber alerts on "For You" pages in a news release on Thursday, Mar. 20. The move is part of a partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Amber alerts were successfully tested in Texas, where alerts appeared in users' FYP feeds and were viewed more than 20 million times in just four months. The pilot program also sent more than 2.5 million people to the NCMEC's …
Predator Preying On Maryland Teens While Out On Bail Learns Prison Fate: Feds Predator Preying On Maryland Teens While Out On Bail Learns Prison Fate: Feds
Predator Preying On Maryland Teens While Out On Bail Learns Prison Fate: Feds The Maryland man who used multiple phones and online apps to target teens - even while he was out on bail and charges were pending - will spend years in prison for coercing and enticing minors, federal authorities announced. Michael Vance Culpepper, 56, of Walkersville, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after being busted by an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old girl online, and then doubling down after being released by a judge. He had faced life in prison. According to his guilty plea, in April and May 2023, Culpepper used cellphones and online applications to "persuade…
Predator Preying On Maryland Teens While Out On Bail Facing Life In Prison: Feds Predator Preying On Maryland Teens While Out On Bail Facing Life In Prison: Feds
Predator Preying On Maryland Teens While Out On Bail Facing Life In Prison: Feds A Maryland man who used multiple phones and online apps to target teens - including while he was out on bail and charges were pending - admitted to coercing and enticing minors, federal authorities announced. Michael Vance Culpepper, 56, of Walkersville, is facing life in prison after being busted by an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old girl online, then doubling down. According to his guilty plea, in April and May 2023, Culpepper used mobile phones and online applications to persuade, induce, entice and coerce two victims whom he believed to be 13- and 14-year-old to engage in sex…