Q2 Report: Momentum Accelerates in the Movement to Protect Kids Online!

May 7, 2024

Digital Defenders: A Quarterly Spotlight on Our Efforts to Safeguard Children Online

Enough Is Enough (EIE) is maximizing its public education and advocacy efforts to protect children and families on the internet. Here are just a few of EIE’s recent highlights!

Public Awareness & Education

Donna was the featured guest on RealTalk with Dr. David Anderson’s Tough Topic Tuesday, discussing the many dangers kids face online today and EIE’s efforts to make the internet safer for children and families.

Donna shared EIE efforts to combat child online sexual exploitation and shared important statistics to know during April’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Donna discussed recent sex trafficking and abuse headlines within the entertainment industry, including the federal inquiry into recording artist Sean “Diddy” Combs sex trafficking allegations.

Donna briefed top conservative and political leaders on the online exploitation of children and EIE’s holistic strategies to prevent these atrocities targeting the innocence of children.

Donna shared about online dangers and practical tips that parents, grandparents, caregivers and educators can use to identify and deter online risks during a Savannah, GA leadership event.

Donna spoke at a Unity City event with a panel of Charleston, SC citizens sharing how to be engaged in society, navigate through negative influences and help protect children online.

Watch “Understanding Addiction” webinar here with addition experts George and Mary Lou Swanberg

Donna’s and EIE Gov’t. Affairs Dir. Dean Grigg’s Op-Ed “Hollywood scandals ignite a call to expose ‘unfruitful works of darkness“, which appeared in The Christian Post, addresses allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse within the entertainment industry.

EIE’s Sr. Communications Advisor Kathy Hatem shared the scope of online exploitation, digital threats, and resources and preventative solutions with Northern Virginia parents.

EIE Gov’t Affairs Dir. Dean Grigg met with the Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center Non-Profit Council to discuss the importance of education and awareness in the fight against online sexual exploitation of children.

Communications Campaign Themes

Highlights included a special focus on Child Abuse Prevention Month (April), Mental Health Awareness Month (May) and Internet Safety Month (June).

Government and Legislative Priorities

Movement Momentum:

?Parents and Lawmakers Say, “Enough Is Enough!“

LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES!

REPORT ACT SIGNED! On May 7, 2024, President Biden signed into law the bipartisan Revising Existing Procedures on Reporting via Technology (REPORT) Act, authored by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Jon Ossof (D-GA). This legislation will require Big Tech companies such as Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram to report crimes against children involving sex trafficking, grooming, or the enticement of children for sexual acts to the CyberTipline. (Photo Credit: USA Today)

“REVENGE PORN” LAW PASSED! On June 13, a bill aimed at outlawing “revenge porn”was approved by lawmakers in the Massachusetts House and Senate and shipped to Gov. Maura Healey (D-MA).

SEX BUYING A FELONY IN NC! North Carolina lawmakers approved legislation (HB 971) that would make soliciting prostitution a felony, mandates human trafficking training for all hotel employees and bans use of pornography on government computers.

PROGRESS IN MOVEMENT TO PROTECT KIDS ONLINE!

On April 30, the Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal from the adult entertainment industry to suspend Texas’ age-verification law.

On May 23, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce voted to advance the Kids Online Safety Act (HR 7891) to the full Committee. The Senate version has 62 co-sponsors!

On June 17, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) unveiled a bi-partisan bill to protect victims of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), also known as “revenge pornography.” The bill would criminalize the publication of NCII, including AI-generated NCII (or “deepfake pornography”), and require social media and similar websites to have in place procedures to remove such content upon notification from a victim.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will have to “tame” their algorithms to filter out or downgrade harmful material to help protect children under proposed British measures. Regulators say the platforms must also have robust age checks to prevent children from seeing harmful content linked to suicide, self-harm and pornography.

Building a South Carolina Children’s Internet Safety Statewide Initiative

S.C. Legislative Victory! SC Governor Henry McMaster signed the Child Online Safety Act

(H. 3424) into law. This law protects minors by mandating websites containing 33.33% or more material deemed “harmful to minors” to an implement age verification system. The bill also holds websites accountable for producing obscene material or promoting child sexual exploitation.

This new law is yet another example of the Governor’s unwavering commitment to making the internet safer for children and families (EIE’s mission!) in South Carolina. In June 2019, Governor McMaster signed the Enough Is Enough Children’s Internet Safety Governor’s Pledge.

You can read Governor McMaster’s signed pledge here.

EIE team met with SC Governor Henry McMaster and First Lady Peggy McMaster

EIE team met with SC Attorney General

Alan Wilson

In early May, Donna and team met with SC Governor Henry McMaster and First Lady Peggy McMaster to continue discussions to make South Carolina a model state for protecting children from online exploitation. Donna shared EIE’s successful campaigns and strategies and how to continue our partnership efforts to prioritize the prevention of online child exploitation in SC. They were also honored to meet with S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson to discuss the dangers of child online sexual exploitation and the importance of education and prevention.

Q2 Report: Momentum Accelerates in the Movement to Protect Kids Online!

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