After confirming the authenticity of the Bigo livestreamer with the authorities, The Times searched the Apple and Google app stores for other video chat apps. Reporters identified a sample of more than 80 apps that advertised children before stopping the search. They later contacted Homeland Security Investigations, the government’s main law enforcement group for international exploitation, for comment.

“The number one customer base paying for this abuse is in the United States,” the agent said. “It’s not like they are abused once a day. It’s 50 men getting 50 separate shows. They’ll wake up these kids in the middle of the night to be abused.”

Asked about The Times’s sample of offending apps, Mr. Sainz said a majority had been detected during the company’s standard review process, with an additional 20 taken down after an internal investigation in response to The Times’s findings.

    • intensely_human@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      2 days ago

      Actually consensual economic interaction, aka free market activity, is fundamental to capitalism.

      • ubergeek@lemmy.today
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 day ago

        Where can I not consent to capitalism in the world, without having to starve and be homeless?

    • otp@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      2 days ago

      Most capitalist societies draw the line somewhere before “Gaining capital through the Sexual exploitation of children is ok”

        • otp@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          16 hours ago

          It’d be interesting if cultural standards were upheld unanimously amongst all members of said culture…

          Or, conversely, if a culture could be judged by the actions of a few outlying individuals…