Tag:

Child Exploitation

Meta's Community Notes To Use Tech From Elon Musk's Social Media Platform Meta's Community Notes To Use Tech From Elon Musk's Social Media Platform
Meta's Community Notes To Use Tech From Elon Musk's Social Media Platform Meta's new Community Notes system will be based on algorithms developed by billionaire Elon Musk's social media platform, the company said. Meta will begin testing the crowdsourced program that aims to prevent misinformation on Tuesday, Mar. 18, the tech giant said in a blog post on Thursday, Mar. 13. The move comes as Meta replaces its third-party fact-checking program in the US for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Community Notes are part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's broader shift toward what he calls "free expression" on the company’s platforms. "We’re going to take time to …
NY Teacher Arrested For Sex Crime Charges Out Of VA: State Police NY Teacher Arrested For Sex Crime Charges Out Of VA: State Police
NY Teacher Arrested For Sex Crime Charges Out Of VA: State Police A 45-year-old teacher from Amherst, NY (Erie County) has been arrested for sex crimes stemming from Virginia, authorities said. Geoffrey J. Testa was arrested on a warrant for multiple felony child exploitation charges out of Fairfax, VA on Friday, Jan. 31, the New York State Police said. Testa is a teacher at Amherst Central High School. He was processed and taken to Erie County Holding Center on the arrest warrant awaiting extradition. Anyone with information can contact the NYSP at 585-344-6200
Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says
Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says Meta is dismantling its third-party fact-checking program in the U.S. and aims to bring back political content as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, the company said. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the changes in a video statement on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, will replace its fact-checking program with a Community Notes system similar to the one implemented on X (formerly Twitter). Zuckerberg said the new system's goal is to reduce bias and restore free expression. "Fact-checkers have be…
7 Suspects Nabbed In Undercover Child Exploitation, Trafficking Detail In Region 7 Suspects Nabbed In Undercover Child Exploitation, Trafficking Detail In Region
7 Suspects Nabbed In Undercover Child Exploitation, Trafficking Detail In Region Seven suspects have been charged following an undercover child exploitation detail. It was conducted over several days by New York State Police and the FBI in Orange County, in the town of Wallkill. "The detail deployed highly trained Investigators and agents to infiltrate online platforms where these crimes are often facilitated," according to state police. "Utilizing advanced cyber tactics, Investigators and Agents were able to identify individuals attempting to exploit vulnerable children through the internet and meet them in person." As a result of the operation, the following ind…
Man Took 5-Year-Old To VA, Upstate NY For Sex: USDOJ Man Took 5-Year-Old To VA, Upstate NY For Sex: USDOJ
Man Took 5-Year-Old To VA, Upstate NY For Sex: Usdoj A 54-year-old Pennsylvania man has been sentenced after admitting to taking a 5-year-old girl for sex in Virginia and New York, the US Department of Justice announced on Wednesday, Sept. 25.  John Oathout, of Harrisburg, PA, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes in Syracuse, NY on Friday, Sept. 20. He'll serve 25 years in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release, and he'll be a registered sex offender for the remainder of his life, according to the USDOJ release.  Oathout admitted to taking the 5-year-old girl on trips out of state w…
Attempted NY Child Rapist Drove 285 Miles For Sex With '13-Year-Old,' Police Say Attempted NY Child Rapist Drove 285 Miles For Sex With '13-Year-Old,' Police Say
Attempted NY Child Rapist Drove 285 Miles For Sex With '13-Year-Old,' Police Say An attempted child rapist avoided lockup after driving hundreds of miles to the region to have sex with who he thought was an underage teen, authorities said. Cary Youngs, age 28, of Hamburg in Erie County, in western New York, was arrested Thursday, April 27, in the Capital Region, in the Albany County town of Colonie, following a police pursuit that lasted nearly 15 minutes, according to state police. Investigators from the agency’s Computer Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, along with the FBI, determined that he drove from Buffalo to Colonie - a distance of 28…
Would-Be Child Rapist Busted By Undercover Agents In Capital Region, Police Say Would-Be Child Rapist Busted By Undercover Agents In Capital Region, Police Say
Would-Be Child Rapist Busted By Undercover Agents In Capital Region, Police Say A 63-year-old man from the region is facing charges after allegedly attempting to meet a child for sex.  Rensselaer County resident Hadj Ounis, of Troy, was arrested on multiple sex charges Monday, Jan. 30, following an investigation by New York State Police. Members of the agency’s Computer Crimes Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force determined that Ounis made arrangements and traveled to meet who he believed was a 14-year-old for sex, according to police. Ounis was arrested after he reportedly showed up to the predetermined meeting spot in Colonie. He is facing …
Duo Traded Vapes For Sexually Explicit Photos Of Underage Girls In Capital Region, Police Say Duo Traded Vapes For Sexually Explicit Photos Of Underage Girls In Capital Region, Police Say
Duo Traded Vapes For Sexually Explicit Photos Of Underage Girls In Capital Region, Police Say Two people are facing charges after allegedly convincing underage girls in the region to send them sexually explicit images in exchange for nicotine products. Michael May, age 24, and Tomassina May, age 67, both of Saratoga Springs, were arrested Monday, Jan. 9, following a months-long investigation by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies began looking into the pair, whose relationship was not immediately clear, after receiving numerous complaints that Michael May had used social media to contact underage girls in Wilton, Northumberland, Moreau, and Saratoga Springs. During thei…
Capital Region Man Admits To Attempted Sex Trafficking Of 14-Year-Old Capital Region Man Admits To Attempted Sex Trafficking Of 14-Year-Old
Capital Region Man Admits To Attempted Sex Trafficking Of 14-Year-Old A Capital Region man will spend at least a decade in federal prison after admitting that he tried to pay for sex with a child. Saratoga County resident Bradley Boisen, age 26, of Waterford, pleaded guilty to attempted sex trafficking of a child Tuesday, No. 15, in federal court in Albany. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, Boisen admitted that in April 2021 he paid another person $60 in order to have sex with a 14-year-old. He now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison when he’s sentenced in March 2023. Boisen will also be required to…
Capital District Sex Offender Admits To Attempting To Entice Minor Capital District Sex Offender Admits To Attempting To Entice Minor
Capital District Sex Offender Admits To Attempting To Entice Minor A previously convicted sex offender from the Capital District could spend more than a decade in federal prison after admitting that he tried having sex with a 13-year-old boy. Rensselaer County resident Lawrence Belcher, age 37, of Troy, pleaded guilty to attempting to coerce and entice a child to engage in sexual acts with him Thursday, July 28, in federal court in Albany. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, between January and April 2022 Belcher sent sexually explicit text messages to someone he thought was a 13-year-old boy. He eventually asked to meet the te…