Investigations & Analysis
In-depth, data-driven investigations into the most pressing online child safety threats.
The 764 Network
An investigation into the FBI's biggest online predator network — a global group that coerced children into self-harm and sexual abuse through social media platforms.
Read InvestigationRoblox's Child Safety Failures
With 150+ lawsuits filed and millions of children at risk, how the world's most popular kids' gaming platform became a hunting ground for predators.
Read InvestigationApple's Blind Spot
How Apple abandoned its CSAM detection tool under pressure, leaving millions of abuse images undetected on iCloud while competitors report millions.
Read InvestigationDiscord Predator Pipeline
Inside Discord's systemic failures to protect minors — from grooming in public servers to CSAM distribution in private channels.
Read InvestigationMeta's Paradox
Meta reports more CSAM than any other company, yet its platforms remain the #1 place where child exploitation occurs. The paradox of detection without prevention.
Read InvestigationTelegram & the Dark Web
How Telegram became a CSAM distribution hub rivaling dark web forums — and why Pavel Durov's arrest in France may mark a turning point.
Read InvestigationThe AI-CSAM Explosion
A 26,385% increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse material — how generative AI tools are supercharging the production of illegal content.
Read InvestigationThe Sextortion Epidemic
FBI data reveals a crisis targeting teen boys — sextortion complaints surged to 75,000+ in 2025, with devastating real-world consequences.
Read InvestigationGaming & Grooming
From Fortnite to Minecraft, how online gaming platforms have become the new frontier for child predators to identify, groom, and exploit minors.
Read InvestigationSchool Sextortion Crisis
A 300% surge in sextortion targeting students — how predators exploit school networks, social media, and gaming to extort children as young as 8.
Read InvestigationWho Are The Predators
A data-driven profile of child sexual offenders — demographics, patterns, recidivism rates, and what the research reveals about who commits these crimes.
Read InvestigationStates Failing Kids
A state-by-state analysis of child protection laws and enforcement — which states lead, which lag behind, and what policy gaps leave children vulnerable.
Read InvestigationAlgorithms & Child Safety
How engagement-optimized recommendation systems on Meta, TikTok, Discord, and Snap surface eating-disorder content in under 3 minutes, drive the 158% rise in online enticement, and now face 42-state AG litigation.
Read InvestigationAge Verification Technology
Why the 13+ checkbox doesn't work, the four real AV methods ranked by friction, what FSC v. Paxton (June 2025) decided, and the 19 state laws now in force.
Read InvestigationOperation Cross Country
Inside the FBI's annual nationwide operation that has identified over 6,500 child sex trafficking victims since 2003 — and the 2024 sweep that rescued 84 minors.
Read InvestigationLive-Streaming Abuse
1 in 100 Filipino children exploited for live-streamed sexual abuse — how Western buyers pay traffickers to abuse children in real-time via video call.
Read InvestigationLatest Federal Enforcement Actions
DOJ press releases · updated 2026-05-26Recent child-exploitation, sextortion, ICAC, and Project Safe Childhood cases from U.S. Attorneys' Offices.
Police Officer Charged with Child Exploitation Crimes Involving Multiple Minor Victims
2026-05-22SAN DIEGO – A federal grand jury indictment was unsealed in San Diego today charging Brandon McGibbon, a San Diego Police Officer, with five counts of child sexual abuse offenses involving three minor victims. According to court records, between October 25 and November 6, 2025, McGibbon engaged in the attempted receipt and production of child pornography and the attempted enticement and coercion of the minors to engage in obscene matter and sexual conduct.
DOJ Press Release →
Rancho Cordova Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Production and Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material
2026-05-22Daragh Finbar Hayes, 45, of Rancho Cordova, was sentenced today to 40 years in prison for production of child sexual abuse material and one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material
DOJ Press Release →
Michigan Man Sentenced to 28 Years of Imprisonment for Online Sexual Extortion of Minor Victims
2026-05-22DOJ Press Release →
Federal Court Opinions
CourtListener · 42 opinions · updated 2026-05-26Published opinions in federal cases charged under §§2251, 2252, 2422, 2423 — the statutes covering CSAM production, distribution, online enticement, and child sex trafficking.
State v. Taylor
2024-05-31OHIOCTAPP · CSAM production (§2251) · H-23-021
People v. Lewis
2024-01-18NYAPPDIV · CSAM production (§2251) · Index No. 72876/22 Appeal No. 1054 Case No. 2023-02116
State v. Fleischer
2023-09-29OHIOCTAPP · CSAM production (§2251) · 22 MA 0061
United States v. Lyle
2022-10-04NMCCA · CSAM production (§2251) · 202100100
United States v. Charles Hillie (AMENDED OPINION)
2022-06-28CADC · CSAM production (§2251) · 19-3027
United States v. Charles Hillie
2021-09-17CADC · CSAM production (§2251) · 19-3027
United States v. Herman Sanders
2020-07-21CA5 · CSAM production (§2251) · 18-10644
United States v. R.V.
2016-01-21NYED · CSAM production (§2251) · 14-CR-0316
K. B. v. Columbus
2014-09-16OHIOCTAPP · CSAM production (§2251) · 14AP-315
United States v. Goergen
2012-06-29CA1 · CSAM production (§2251) · 11-1092