Biden Administration hampers child protection task force amidst rising crime.
A Department of Justice Program Faces Funding Cuts, Raising Concerns for Child Safety
The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, a national network dedicated to combating internet crimes against children, is facing significant funding cuts under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Despite the alarming increase in child sexual abuse and exploitation on social media platforms, the DOJ program’s budget has been reduced by nearly $3.5 million in 2022, dropping from $34.68 million to $31.2 million.
Social media giants like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok have been removing millions of posts and images related to child abuse. However, the number of offenses continues to rise.
Enough is Enough, an internet safety organization, has reported a drastic increase in cases involving younger children. In 2022 alone, a government tip line received over 32 million reports containing more than 88 million images or videos related to child sexual exploitation.
The funding cuts to ICAC have raised concerns about the Justice Department’s commitment to fighting child trafficking. Recent news reports revealed the removal of crucial information on child sex trafficking from the DOJ’s website.
Conservative politicians and child advocates have criticized this move, accusing the administration of downplaying the severity of the issue. GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida stated, “DOJ’s blatant move to distance Joe Biden’s harmful policies from the global crime of sex trafficking should be no surprise to any of us.”
Victor Marx, head of the anti-human-trafficking Christian organization All Things Possible Ministries, expressed concern over the administration’s actions. He emphasized the importance of accessible information for victims and witnesses, stating, “Clear, accessible, and comprehensive information available to the public is key to raising awareness and fostering cooperation in combating these heinous crimes.”
The funding cuts to the ICAC program and the removal of critical information on child sex trafficking from the DOJ’s website highlight the need for continued support and resources to protect children from predators online.
Source: The Western Journal
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