Digital Exploitation and the Fight Against Sextortion

Online sextortion, involving coercing a victim to send sensitive or intimate images online, is one of the fastest-growing forms of exploitation, often targeting teens through fake profiles and disappearing digital trails. Detective Dustin Stewart of the Weber County Sheriff’s Office joins us to discuss how online predators manipulate victims, why shame prevents reporting, and how investigations are challenged when offenders appear to vanish online. He highlights warning signs that parents and schools should watch for and shares strategies investigators use to preserve digital evidence and prevent predators. For more resources addressing online abuse: AEquitas resource on prosecuting image exploitation can be found here.  Stop Calling It ‘Revenge Porn’ available is available here.Bringing Offenders into Focus is available here. You can also request the AEquitas Statutory Compilation on Image Abuse Laws, a cross-jurisdictional review of how states handle image abuse offenses, through AEquitasResource.org/resources. In addition AEquitas and The Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC) a project of AEquitas, provide expert training, technical assistance and publications through the Just Tech Initiative and the National Resource Center on Cybercrimes Against Individuals.You can find the Take it Down website here.This podcast discusses the violent crime of human trafficking and related crimes of sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking. If you need support, please call: The National Domestic Violence Hotline, RAINN, and The Human Trafficking Hotline.If you'd like more info about AEquitas visit: https://aequitasresource.org or email us at: [email protected]. Follow AEquitas on Instagram @aequitas_resource