child abuse Archives

AppWizard

March 19, 2025

TPD Officer Arrested For Child Porn After MeetMe App Reported Explicit Communications

A digital messenger application, MeetMe Inc., reported serious allegations involving a local police officer to authorities, specifically concerning sexually explicit communications with children. On September 25, 2024, MeetMe initiated a cyber tip to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, providing a chat log that led investigators to Burcham, a patrol officer with the Tuscaloosa Police Department who resigned shortly after. The transcript revealed Burcham soliciting child sexual abuse material, including explicit references to an 11-year-old girl. A subpoena to Charter Communications linked the app's login activity to Burcham's residence in Northport, and a search warrant executed on his cell phone recovered graphic images depicting the sexual abuse of children. Burcham was apprehended by Tuscaloosa Police and is currently held in jail without bond as the investigation continues.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

N.J. teacher accused of uploading child pornography posed as a teen in chat app, officials say

Matthew Serwedes, a 48-year-old former technology educator from Union County, has been charged with second-degree distribution and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material. He allegedly posed as a teenager on an encrypted messaging platform to engage with users and had uploaded images of child exploitation. The investigation began with a tip on December 5, 2024, leading authorities to trace videos of sexual abuse to Serwedes' IP address. During a search of his home, electronic devices were confiscated, and he admitted to owning the account used for the activities. Serwedes was placed on administrative leave from his teaching position, and the school district stated there is no evidence of student involvement. He remains in custody awaiting a detention hearing and plans to plead not guilty. Additionally, he wrote a six-page apology letter to the victims and their families.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

‘Loophole’ in law on messaging apps leaves children vulnerable to sexual abuse, says NSPCC

Nearly 39,000 child sex abuse image crimes were documented in the past year, with approximately 38,685 crimes recorded in England and Wales during the 2023/24 period, averaging over 100 incidents per day. Snapchat was identified as the most frequently mentioned app in these cases, accounting for 50% of incidents, followed by Instagram (11%), Facebook (7%), and WhatsApp (6%). The NSPCC and other organizations are advocating for stronger enforcement of the Online Safety Act, citing concerns about a loophole that allows direct messaging services to remove harmful content only if deemed "technically feasible." The NSPCC expressed the need for proactive measures from platforms to prevent becoming "safe havens" for abusers, particularly highlighting risks associated with end-to-end encryption. A 13-year-old victim shared her distressing experience on Snapchat, where she was threatened after sending nude pictures to a stranger. NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood called for immediate government action, criticizing separate regulations for private messaging services that allow tech companies to evade responsibility. The Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, mandates social media companies to mitigate illegal and harmful content, but protective measures are still being implemented. Ofcom stated that most services should be capable of removing harmful content, while a government spokesperson reiterated the commitment to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse and to implement the Online Safety Act effectively.

AppWizard

February 9, 2025

Miami-Dade man accused of sharing child sex abuse videos on Kik messenger

A 28-year-old man named Juan Carlos Montejo Jr. was arrested in Miami-Dade County for distributing videos of child sexual abuse, following an investigation initiated by a tip from the Broward Sheriff’s Office. The investigation began in July after detectives found that Montejo had uploaded videos depicting the abuse of young girls, some under three years old, via the messaging app Kik. Surveillance on his residence led to his arrest on Monday evening. Montejo faces four felony charges related to the possession of child sexual abuse material and is currently held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with a bond set at ,000.

AppWizard

October 9, 2024

Russia and Turkey ban Discord messaging app

Russia and Turkey have imposed restrictions on the messaging platform Discord due to its failure to comply with local regulations. In Russia, the internet regulatory body Roskomnadzor cited violations related to terrorism, extremist recruitment, and drug trafficking, while data from NetBlocks confirmed Discord's restriction across multiple internet service providers. A Moscow court recently fined Discord for not removing forbidden content. In Turkey, the telecommunications regulator ICTA linked Discord to serious offenses, including child abuse and online harassment, following a court ruling. Both countries have a history of limiting access to social media under security pretexts.

AppWizard

September 25, 2024

Telegram will now provide some user data to authorities

Telegram will comply with legal requests from authorities, including providing users' IP addresses and phone numbers when presented with valid search warrants, as announced by CEO Pavel Durov. This decision aims to deter criminal activities on the platform. Durov acknowledged that while most of Telegram's nearly one billion users are law-abiding, a small fraction involved in illicit activities affects the platform's reputation. Following Durov's detention by French authorities over allegations related to criminal activities on Telegram, he criticized the authorities for holding him accountable for third-party actions. Critics have raised concerns about the platform's expansive group feature and its association with misinformation and illegal content. Ukraine has banned the app on state-issued devices to mitigate threats from Russia. Durov's arrest has led to discussions about free speech protections online and concerns about the platform's cooperation with authoritarian governments. Telegram plans to enhance its content moderation efforts using artificial intelligence, but experts express skepticism about whether this will meet legal requirements.

AppWizard

August 31, 2024

Far-right groups in Scotland blocked from Telegram app days after arrest

Telegram has begun removing chat channels associated with far-right groups, particularly in Scotland, as part of an effort to enhance moderation on the platform. The Active Club network is among those targeted for removal. Telegram founder Pavel Durov is under investigation by French police for allegations that criminal gangs are using the platform. Telegram has removed UK-based channels that spread calls to violence as part of standard moderation efforts. Durov was detained in Paris and released after questioning, but remains under judicial supervision facing multiple charges, including complicity in the distribution of child abuse images. Telegram asserts compliance with EU laws and claims its moderation practices are evolving to meet industry standards.

AppWizard

August 29, 2024

Telegram CEO charged in France for ‘allowing criminal activity’ on messaging app

Pavel Durov, the head of Telegram, has been charged by the French judiciary for allegedly allowing criminal activities on the platform, including complicity in the dissemination of sexual images of minors. He was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris and was released on bail set at €5 million, with the condition that he reports to a police station twice a week. Durov, a 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire with French citizenship, is part of a broader investigation into Telegram's moderation practices regarding illicit content. Telegram claims compliance with EU laws and defends its moderation efforts. Durov, who resides in Dubai and holds citizenship in both France and the UAE, has faced scrutiny for Telegram's alleged use by criminal organizations, despite asserting that child abuse material and public calls for violence are "red lines." His low public profile contrasts with other tech executives, and while some Russian officials suggest his arrest may be politically motivated, French President Emmanuel Macron has denied such claims.

AppWizard

August 22, 2024

IMPD officer accused of using Kik messaging app for child porn

Javed Richards, a twelve-year veteran of the Indianapolis Metro Police Department, has been accused of uploading over forty files containing child pornography using the messaging app Kik. He allegedly used a secured email domain to conceal his activities. Kik reported his suspicious behavior to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in July. Richards has been arrested and charged with twelve counts of child exploitation, and the police chief has recommended his termination. He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

AppWizard

July 24, 2024

Ocala man accused of using Kik messaging app to view toddler porn

A 33-year-old man from Ocala was arrested for accessing videos and images of children being sexually abused through the Kik messaging app. He admitted to using the app for this purpose and faces three counts of possession of child pornography.