By Michaela Gordoni
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) will release its annual Dirty Dozen List, which names the worst US companies allowing sexual exploitation, on March 31.
“With the rapid rise of sexual exploitation through AI and other digital platforms, in conjunction with few laws to confront this crisis that impacts both children and adults, the Dirty Dozen List will reveal 12 of the worst offenders contributing to this perfect storm of exploitation,” said Haley McNamara, Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer at the NCOSE, in a press release.
“The Dirty Dozen List’s intent is to generate change when it comes to policies, procedures and practices of mainstream entities that contribute to rampant sexual abuse and exploitation. When AI promotes child sexual abuse or sexual violence, when social media executives knowingly allow predators to reach children, when digital platforms enable image-based sexual abuse to flourish, it is time for them to be called out and exposed for the harm they are perpetuating,” McNamara added.
The Dirty Dozen List for 2025 had an untraditional twist. Instead of naming 12 entities, it focused on Section 230 of the repeal of the Communications Decency Act, which shields technology companies from accountability.
Related: Meta, Netflix, OnlyFans Named on NCOSE Annual “Dirty Dozen List” for 2022
The act is not yet repealed, and it will likely be on the list again this year.
Several senators support the removal of the act, which was implemented in 1996 at the takeoff of the internet era.
President pro tempore of the United States Senate, Chuck Grassley said, “Fast forward three decades, many of these entities are among the most powerful, profitable companies in the world; they use Section 230 to evade badly needed accountability.”
“Congress must take swift action to empower victims and send a message to Big Tech. With passage of our legislation, social media companies would no longer have license to profit from heinous material and drug trafficking pushed on their platforms with immunity,” he explained. “The day is long overdue to open the courthouse doors for victims of online crimes and exploitation to seek justice and hold wrongdoers accountable.”
Tez Cruz, senate chairman for Commerce, Science and Transportation, just addressed Section 230 at a Senate Committee hearing on March 18.
“Thirty years later, it seems Big Tech is the new gatekeeper, the new speech police. If you disagree with a particular view, Big Tech doesn’t answer it with more speech,” Cruz said.
“They do not persuade. They do not debate. They simply make it disappear and silence you. That should scare everyone,” he said.
Hopefully, NCOSE’s new Dirty Dozen list gains attention. Entities should not be facilitating sexual exploitation in any way, shape or form.
Read Next: NCOSE’s 2024 Dirty Dozen List Adds Meta, Apple
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
Share:
– Content: +1