South Carolina Representative RJ May, known for his anti-LGBTQ+ stance, received a 17.5-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to distributing child sex abuse material (CSAM). May, who was honored by Moms for Liberty in 2023, was found to have shared hundreds of explicit images and videos of children, prompting his suspension and resignation from office. The investigation revealed May’s use of multiple aliases and deletion of messaging apps while transmitting CSAM to users across several states and countries. His case highlighted the severity of the material he shared and his previous anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, which included accusations of harm to children.
Read More
Former South Carolina state lawmaker RJ May received a 17.5-year federal prison sentence for distributing child sexual abuse material, a sentence the judge deemed the most severe she had seen. May, a former Republican representative, pleaded guilty to five counts related to the distribution of explicit videos shared with users across multiple states and countries. His sentence also includes lifetime sex offender registration and 20 years of court supervision, with prosecutors emphasizing that no one is above the law. May admitted to using aliases and deleting apps to conceal his activity, which included a sexual interest in child sexual abuse, while also serving in the State House.
Read More
California to investigate xAI over Grok chatbot images, officials say. It’s becoming increasingly clear that California officials are stepping in, and it’s not a moment too soon. The focus is squarely on the xAI company and its Grok chatbot, specifically regarding the images it generates. The investigation is likely driven by serious concerns about the potential for Grok to produce harmful content, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Given the sheer scope of this issue, and the numerous countries beginning investigations, it’s not surprising to see California add its weight to the chorus of concern.
Not being aware is a flimsy defense, especially when the person at the helm of xAI is running the show.… Continue reading
Proposed amendments to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill in the UK would mandate pre-installed, unremovable surveillance software on most smartphones and tablets to combat child sexual abuse material (CSAM). These devices would be required to continuously scan and analyze all user-handled media and communications, even encrypted ones. This constant client-side scanning would undermine end-to-end encryption and normalize pre-emptive surveillance, raising significant privacy concerns and potentially leading to false positives, as demonstrated by the high error rates in existing CSAM scanning systems. Furthermore, other amendments in the bill would also require strict age verification measures for VPN providers and social media, thus establishing a comprehensive framework that turns personal devices into permanent monitoring systems.
Read More
Kelly Lee Setzer, a 64-year-old man from Hickory, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for producing and transporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The sentencing followed a search warrant executed at Setzer’s residence, where officers found videos depicting the sexual abuse of a prepubescent child. The investigation also revealed Setzer possessed an extensive CSAM library with over 48,000 videos and images, along with an online relationship involving a minor. Setzer pleaded guilty to multiple counts related to the production, transportation, and possession of child pornography and was ordered to pay restitution, serve lifetime supervised release, and register as a sex offender.
Read More
Moms for Liberty, a group that champions parental rights and often criticizes what they perceive as liberal excesses in education, recently honored a Republican representative. This representative was subsequently arrested on charges related to child sexual abuse material. This jarring juxtaposition highlights a significant disconnect between the group’s stated values and the actions of one of its celebrated members.
The arrest underscores a disturbing trend: the alleged involvement of individuals within conservative circles in acts of child exploitation. The sheer volume of cases involving individuals identifying with the Republican party and engaging in such horrific acts raises serious questions. It compels us to consider the underlying cultural forces that might contribute to this alarming pattern.… Continue reading
Dazhon Darien received a four-month jail sentence after pleading Alford to disrupting school operations; this follows his creation and dissemination of an AI-generated deepfake audio recording falsely portraying Pikesville High School principal Eric Eiswert as racist and antisemitic. The deepfake, created after Darien’s contract was not renewed due to financial improprieties, caused significant distress and prompted police intervention. This case highlights the emerging threat of AI-generated disinformation for personal gain, prompting calls for stronger legislation. Darien faces further charges related to child sexual abuse material.
Read More
Jan. 6 rioters are arguing that presidential pardons extend to charges far beyond their involvement in the Capitol riot, even encompassing serious crimes like plotting murder and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This claim is raising significant outrage and questions about the scope of presidential pardons and the potential implications for public safety.
The core of the argument hinges on the wording of the pardons themselves. While the pardons explicitly mention actions related to the January 6th events, the rioters contend that the broad language used implies a blanket pardon for all federal crimes, regardless of their connection to the riot.… Continue reading
Matthew Inman, 39, Orange County Democratic Party Treasurer and Rainbow Democrats president, has been arrested and charged with transportation of child sex abuse material. Authorities allege Inman possessed CSAM videos on his phone and attempted to delete them upon FBI arrival with a warrant. He allegedly engaged in online conversations expressing interest in sexually assaulting a fictional 9-year-old boy. If convicted, Inman faces five to twenty years in federal prison, and both the Orange County Democratic Party and the Rainbow Democrats have suspended him.
Read More
A whistleblower complaint filed with FinCEN alleges that Mastercard and Visa knowingly facilitated money laundering related to child sexual abuse material and sex trafficking on OnlyFans. The complaint, submitted by a senior financial compliance expert, claims the payment processors ignored evidence of illicit activity despite prior warnings. While both Mastercard and Visa deny the allegations and assert zero-tolerance policies, the complaint also notes prior attempts to alert the companies in 2021 and 2022. OnlyFans, which previously attempted to curb explicit content before reversing that decision, has yet to comment.
Read More