[
  {
    "date": "2021",
    "title": "764 Network Founded",
    "category": "extremism",
    "description": "Bradley Chance Cadenhead (alias 'Felix'), a Texas teenager, founds the 764 network — a decentralized international sextortion and exploitation network that would become an FBI Tier One investigative priority.",
    "source": "DOJ"
  },
  {
    "date": "2021-08",
    "title": "Apple Announces — Then Abandons — iCloud CSAM Scanning",
    "category": "platform",
    "description": "Apple announces plans to scan iCloud Photos for CSAM using on-device hashing. After intense privacy backlash, the program is scrapped in 2022, leaving Apple with near-zero detection capability.",
    "source": "The Hill"
  },
  {
    "date": "2022",
    "title": "NCMEC Reports Hit 32 Million",
    "category": "data",
    "description": "CyberTipline receives 32 million reports with 88 million CSAM files — a record at the time. The growth trajectory is alarming.",
    "source": "NCMEC"
  },
  {
    "date": "2023-10",
    "title": "41 State AGs Sue Meta",
    "category": "legal",
    "description": "41+ state attorneys general file suit against Meta alleging harmful features for children, including addictive design and failure to protect minors from exploitation.",
    "source": "NPR"
  },
  {
    "date": "2023-12",
    "title": "Meta Enables E2E Encryption on Messenger",
    "category": "platform",
    "description": "Meta rolls out end-to-end encryption on Facebook Messenger. CSAM reports from Facebook plummet 52% in 2024, raising alarm that exploitation is going undetected rather than declining.",
    "source": "NBC News"
  },
  {
    "date": "2023",
    "title": "NCMEC Reports Peak at 36.2 Million",
    "category": "data",
    "description": "CyberTipline receives a record 36.2 million reports with 105.6 million data files. Meta platforms account for 85% of all reports.",
    "source": "NCMEC"
  },
  {
    "date": "2024",
    "title": "Hindenburg Labels Roblox a 'Pedophile Hellscape'",
    "category": "platform",
    "description": "Short-seller Hindenburg Research publishes a devastating report on Roblox, alleging the platform enables sexual predators to groom and exploit its predominantly child user base. Stock drops 19%.",
    "source": "Hindenburg Research"
  },
  {
    "date": "2024-08",
    "title": "Telegram CEO Arrested in Paris",
    "category": "legal",
    "description": "Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, is arrested at a Paris airport on charges including complicity in CSAM distribution. The arrest highlights Telegram's longstanding refusal to moderate content.",
    "source": "Multiple sources"
  },
  {
    "date": "2024-08",
    "title": "DOJ Sues TikTok for COPPA Violations",
    "category": "legal",
    "description": "The Department of Justice sues TikTok for collecting children's personal data without parental consent, violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.",
    "source": "DOJ"
  },
  {
    "date": "2024-10",
    "title": "14 State AGs + DC Sue TikTok",
    "category": "legal",
    "description": "A coalition of 14 state attorneys general plus DC file suit against TikTok over child safety failures and harmful design features targeting minors.",
    "source": "State AG offices"
  },
  {
    "date": "2024",
    "title": "AI-Generated CSAM Explodes: 67,000 Reports",
    "category": "ai",
    "description": "NCMEC receives 67,000 AI-generated CSAM reports — a 1,325% increase from 4,700 in 2023. AI platforms like OpenAI and Amazon AI Services appear in ESP reports for the first time.",
    "source": "Thorn / NCMEC"
  },
  {
    "date": "2024",
    "title": "WeProtect: 300M+ Children Affected Globally",
    "category": "data",
    "description": "WeProtect Global Alliance publishes the first global estimate: over 300 million children are affected by online sexual exploitation in a single 12-month period.",
    "source": "WeProtect"
  },
  {
    "date": "2025-04",
    "title": "New Jersey AG Sues Discord",
    "category": "legal",
    "description": "New Jersey's Attorney General files suit against Discord over child safety failures, alleging the platform's server structure enables predator communities to thrive.",
    "source": "CNBC"
  },
  {
    "date": "2025-05-19",
    "title": "TAKE IT DOWN Act Signed Into Law",
    "category": "legislation",
    "description": "President signs the TAKE IT DOWN Act, making it a federal crime to publish nonconsensual intimate imagery including AI deepfakes of minors. Platforms must remove flagged content.",
    "source": "Congress.gov"
  },
  {
    "date": "2025",
    "title": "IWF Reports 26,385% Increase in AI CSAM Videos",
    "category": "ai",
    "description": "The Internet Watch Foundation reports AI-generated CSAM videos surged from 13 in 2024 to 3,443 in 2025 — a 26,385% increase. 65% classified as Category A (most severe).",
    "source": "IWF / Fortune"
  },
  {
    "date": "2025",
    "title": "FBI Investigating 350+ Subjects Tied to 764",
    "category": "extremism",
    "description": "FBI reveals it is investigating more than 350 subjects connected to the 764 network across at least 8 countries. Canada designates 764 a terrorist group.",
    "source": "Fox News / DOJ"
  },
  {
    "date": "2025-12",
    "title": "764 Leader Pleads Guilty to RICO and Child Exploitation",
    "category": "legal",
    "description": "A leader of the 764 extremist group pleads guilty to RICO conspiracy and child exploitation charges in San Antonio federal court.",
    "source": "DOJ"
  },
  {
    "date": "2025-12",
    "title": "Operation Relentless Justice: 293 Arrests",
    "category": "enforcement",
    "description": "All 56 FBI field offices participate in a two-week operation resulting in 293 child sex abuse offender arrests and 205 child victims located.",
    "source": "DOJ"
  },
  {
    "date": "2025",
    "title": "Sextortion Complaints Hit 75,000+",
    "category": "data",
    "description": "FBI IC3 receives over 75,000 sextortion submissions in 2025, with 5,700+ involving minors referred to NCMEC. Financial sextortion losses reached $33.5M in 2024.",
    "source": "IC3 2025 Report"
  },
  {
    "date": "2026-01",
    "title": "Social Media Addiction MDL Trial Begins",
    "category": "legal",
    "description": "Trial begins in the Social Media Adolescent Addiction MDL (N.D. Cal.) with 1,246+ consolidated cases against Meta, Google, Snap, TikTok, and others.",
    "source": "NPR"
  },
  {
    "date": "2026-02",
    "title": "West Virginia AG Sues Apple Over CSAM Failures",
    "category": "legal",
    "description": "West Virginia's AG files suit against Apple alleging failure to detect and report CSAM — only 250 reports to NCMEC vs. millions from peer platforms.",
    "source": "The Hill"
  },
  {
    "date": "2026-02",
    "title": "House Oversight Investigates 764 Network",
    "category": "legislation",
    "description": "House Oversight Committee launches formal investigation into the 764 violent online network and its exploitation of children.",
    "source": "House Oversight Committee"
  },
  {
    "date": "2026-05",
    "title": "Texas AG Sues Discord",
    "category": "legal",
    "description": "Texas Attorney General sues Discord alleging the platform endangered children through inadequate safety measures.",
    "source": "Texas Tribune"
  },
  {
    "date": "2026-05",
    "title": "Indiana AG Sues Roblox — Cites Teen Death",
    "category": "legal",
    "description": "Indiana AG Todd Rokita sues Roblox citing failed safeguards and the death of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee, bringing the Roblox MDL to ~148 cases.",
    "source": "State AG"
  },
  {
    "date": "2026-05",
    "title": "TAKE IT DOWN Act First Major Enforcement",
    "category": "enforcement",
    "description": "First major enforcement under the TAKE IT DOWN Act results in arrests involving 140 victims of AI deepfake pornography.",
    "source": "DOJ"
  }
]