Elizabeth Warren Calls for Crackdown on Crypto’s Role in Child Sexual Abuse
Elizabeth Warren Calls for Crackdown on Crypto's Role in Child Sexual Abuse WIRED
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US Senators Call for Action to Stop Use of Cryptocurrency in Child Sexual Abuse Material Transactions
US senators Elizabeth Warren and Bill Cassidy have called for the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to redouble efforts to stop the use of cryptocurrency to pay for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online, a problem they claim has worsened.
The Issue at Hand
In a letter sent on Thursday, addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the senators claim that the “pseudonymity” afforded by crypto transactions is helping those that trade in CSAM to evade detection by law enforcement.
Increasing Use of Cryptocurrency in Illicit Trade
Citing data from the US Treasury’s Financial Crime Enforcement Network as well as research from Chainalysis, a company that specializes in tracing crypto transactions, and the Internet Watch Foundation, a CSAM-focused charity, the letter asserts that the “use of cryptocurrency in the illicit trade of CSAM appears to be increasing.”
Statistics and Methods
- Between 2020 and 2022, financial institutions identified 1,800 bitcoin wallets suspected of engaging in transactions linked to child sexual exploitation or human trafficking.
- Although the scale of the crypto-based market for CSAM decreased in 2023, sellers became more sophisticated in evading detection.
- Methods used to conceal CSAM activity include crypto mixing services and ATMs to launder funds.
Concerned Senators
“These are deeply troubling findings revealing the extent to which cryptocurrency is the payment of choice for perpetrators of child sexual abuse and exploitation,” wrote the senators.
Call for Action
To address this issue, Warren and Cassidy have asked the DOJ and DHS to:
- Publish details of their own research into the scope of crypto’s role in the CSAM problem.
- Provide information about the challenges specific to prosecuting this category of crime.
The senators have given the agencies until May 10 to respond to their questions.
Emphasizing the Sustainable Development Goals
The use of cryptocurrency in facilitating CSAM transactions goes against several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- Goal 5: Gender Equality
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Warren’s Stance on Cryptocurrency
For her frequent and voluble criticism of cryptocurrency and its role in illicit activity, Warren has become something of a villain in crypto circles. She believes that the crypto industry must follow the same stringent rules as other financial organizations in the US in order to prevent misuse by criminal actors, including vendors of CSAM.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
- Indicator 16.2.3: Proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18
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SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor
- Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group
Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are:
– Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
– Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. The indicators are:
– Indicator 16.2.3: Proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18
– Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group
These indicators can be used to measure progress in addressing the issues of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and child labor mentioned in the article.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | Indicator 16.2.3: Proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18 |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor | Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group |
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Source: wired.com
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