For Pauline Stuart, the news was almost unbelievable: the man believed responsible for her teenage son’s death is finally behind bars.

“It still feels unreal,” she told CNN. “I thought it would never happen, but law enforcement never gave up.”

The suspect, Alfred Kassi, was arrested in Côte d’Ivoire — thousands of miles from the Northern California home where her 17-year-old son, Ryan Last, took his own life in 2022. Alongside three accomplices, Kassi is charged in connection with an international sextortion scheme targeting thousands, including minors across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Spain, and Italy.

What is Sextortion?

Sextortion is a dangerous online scam where perpetrators trick victims—often children—into sending explicit images, then demand money or more photos under threat of exposing those images to family or friends.

In Ryan’s case, it began with a message from someone pretending to be a girl. Within hours, a nightmare unfolded.

A Teen’s Final Hours

Ryan, a straight-A student and Boy Scout, received the message on a school night in February 2022. The scammer sent him a nude photo, then pressured him for one in return. After Ryan complied, they demanded $5,000 — threatening to share the image publicly if he didn’t pay.

Unable to meet the demand, Ryan’s family savings were drained as the extortionists continued to push for more money.

By 2 a.m., just hours after saying goodnight to his mom, Ryan tragically ended his life. His suicide note revealed his overwhelming fear and embarrassment.

“He truly believed there was no way out if those pictures were shared,” Stuart said. “No child should ever be that scared.”

A Growing Crisis

The FBI and other U.S. agencies have reported a sharp rise in sextortion cases, prompting nationwide warnings to parents.

Experts say teens are particularly vulnerable because their brains are still developing, making it hard to see beyond immediate crises.

Dr. Scott Hadland of Mass General for Children explains, “When something catastrophic like this happens, teens struggle to imagine things getting better.”

Protecting Teens Online

Hadland urges parents to stay involved in their kids’ online lives—know who they talk to, what platforms they use, and watch for signs of pressure to share personal info or photos.

Crucially, he advises parents to approach the subject without judgment. “Make sure your teens know they can talk to you if they make a mistake or feel scared.”

Pauline Stuart agrees. “We need to talk openly with our kids and make them aware of these dangers.”

Justice and Cooperation

Kassi and his accomplices will face prosecution in Côte d’Ivoire, where they were arrested. The country doesn’t extradite its citizens, but authorities there have cybercrime laws that apply.

The FBI investigation was aided by San Jose police, the U.S. State Department, and Meta (Facebook’s parent company), which provided key information to identify the suspects.

The Justice Department noted that Kassi still had sextortion messages sent to Ryan on his phone at the time of arrest, underscoring the ongoing threat these criminals posed.

Source: CNN – ‘Sextortion’ ring targeting thousands of minors worldwide was just disrupted by the FBI, officials say

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Australia has enacted a world-first law prohibiting children under 16 from accessing social media, placing significant accountability on tech companies to tighten security. The law, passed by the Senate on the final sitting day of the year, requires companies to take “reasonable steps” to enforce the ban or face fines of up to AUD 50 million (USD 32 million).

This unprecedented move is a response to the growing concerns about social media’s impact on youth. While other nations have introduced similar restrictions, Australia is the first to hold companies accountable for violations. Platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and X are expected to fall under the ban, with the possibility of more being added.

Government and Public Reactions

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the growing global concern over social media’s effects on young people, describing it as a platform that can amplify bullying, anxiety, scams, and online predation. “At 16, children are better equipped to recognize fakes and dangers,” Albanese told Parliament.

The bill received bipartisan support, with Liberal Sen. Maria Kovacic calling it a “pivotal moment” in checking the power of tech giants. “We’ve drawn a line in the sand,” she said.

However, the law faced strong opposition from smaller parties and independents. Greens Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young criticized the rushed process and warned that it could push vulnerable youth into isolation. “Social media should be made safer for everyone, not banned arbitrarily,” she argued.

A Rushed Legislative Process

The bill’s rapid progression has drawn criticism for insufficient consultation. Submissions to a Senate inquiry were open for only 24 hours, followed by a brief three-hour hearing. Despite receiving over 100 submissions, most contributors expressed concerns about the lack of thorough review.

The Senate committee recommended some amendments, including prohibiting the use of government-issued documents, like passports, for age verification.

Tech Companies’ Concerns

Tech companies raised objections, citing privacy risks and the challenges of enforcing the law. Snap Inc., the maker of Snapchat, suggested “device-level age verification” as the best solution. X, owned by Elon Musk, expressed concern about freedom of expression. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, advocated for waiting on results from age verification trials expected next year.

Meta also criticized the exclusion of platforms like YouTube and online gaming from the ban, arguing this undermines the law’s intent.

Public Support and Next Steps

Despite criticisms, the law enjoys strong public backing. A recent YouGov poll showed 77% of Australians support the ban.

The government will now consult stakeholders to determine a start date. Once implemented, accounts belonging to users under 16 will be deactivated. While parents and children will not face penalties for violations, companies must demonstrate robust efforts to comply.

This landmark legislation signals a turning point in how nations address the complex relationship between social media and youth, setting a precedent for others to follow.

Source

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Career-networking giant LinkedIn has pushed back against proposed Australian legislation aimed at banning social media access for children under 16, arguing that its platform is simply too unappealing to minors to be included in the ban.

“LinkedIn simply does not have content interesting and appealing to minors,” the Microsoft-owned company stated in a submission to the Australian Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee.

Australia’s Push for a Social Media Ban

The Australian government has proposed “world-leading” legislation to restrict children’s access to social media, citing concerns over online harm. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that the measures are designed to address the worries of parents about their children’s online safety.

While other tech giants like Meta, Google, Snapchat, and TikTok have raised objections, LinkedIn took a different stance, asserting that its professional focus and minimum age requirement of 16 make it irrelevant to younger audiences. The company added that it actively removes accounts belonging to underage users when identified.

Industry Concerns and Criticism

Other social media platforms have voiced significant concerns about the proposed legislation:

• Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram) argued the bill would fail to ease the burden on parents and claimed it disregards expert advice from child safety and mental health professionals.
• TikTok Australia criticized the legislation’s rushed timeline, warning it could lead to unintended consequences.
• Google, Snapchat, and X (formerly Twitter) raised legal and practical issues, including the bill’s reliance on age verification technologies still under trial.

Privacy and Consultation Issues

Privacy advocates and human rights experts have also criticized the bill for its hasty development and potential privacy implications. Carly Kind, Australia’s privacy commissioner, and Lorraine Findlay, human rights commissioner, have both called for more comprehensive consultation and scrutiny before the legislation is enacted.

LinkedIn’s Case for Exemption

LinkedIn argued that regulating its platform under the new law would impose unnecessary costs and barriers for its users in Australia. By avoiding inclusion in the legislation, the platform could also sidestep the need for additional age verification processes.

International Interest

Australia’s approach has garnered attention worldwide. In the UK, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle mentioned similar legislation as a possibility, while France has already implemented a law requiring parental consent for children under 15 to access social media. However, research suggests nearly half of French minors have bypassed the restrictions using VPNs.

What’s Next?

The Australian government plans to pass the legislation before the end of the parliamentary year. However, experts warn the current timeframe and lack of consultation could hinder its effectiveness.

As the debate continues, LinkedIn’s professional focus and limited appeal to younger audiences may ultimately exempt it from these sweeping changes.

Source

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Meta has removed over 2 million accounts this year related to “pig-butchering” scams, a type of fraudulent scheme that often leads to victims losing their life savings through fake online friendships and cryptocurrency investments.

These scams are complex and can unfold over several months. Scammers begin by establishing an online friendship or romantic relationship, slowly convincing the victim to invest in fake cryptocurrency opportunities. Many victims, believing they’ve found a legitimate way to get rich, end up giving away large sums of money before realizing they’ve been deceived.

Meta has taken significant steps to address this issue, including deploying dedicated teams to identify scam operations, sharing data with international law enforcement, and taking down millions of scam-related accounts. These measures are part of a broader effort by major tech companies to tackle pig-butchering scams, which have cost Americans billions of dollars annually.

Scammers often use a range of platforms to target victims, including dating apps, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. A common strategy is to lure victims onto Telegram, an app that is less moderated and often reluctant to cooperate with international authorities. Telegram has recently updated its terms of service to indicate it may cooperate with law enforcement, following the arrest of its owner in France in August.

Pig-butchering scams are a growing problem. In September, the FBI reported that victims had lost nearly $4 billion to crypto-related scams, most of which fall under the pig-butchering category. This number likely underrepresents the true scale of the issue, as many victims do not report the fraud.

To combat this, Meta will now automatically flag potential scam messages when strangers message users on Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, or WhatsApp groups. This move is part of a broader recognition among tech companies of the severity of pig-butchering scams.

In one case, Meta recently took down a network of scam accounts linked to a compound in Cambodia. The scammers had been using ChatGPT to translate their messages and generate social media posts to trick victims. Meta was alerted to this operation by OpenAI.

Earlier this year, Meta, Tinder, Hinge owner Match Group, and several cryptocurrency companies formed the Tech Against Scams coalition. This group pledged to share information about scammers and educate users on how to avoid falling victim to such schemes. Jeff Lunglhofer, CIO of Coinbase, emphasized that collaborating with other tech companies and sharing data is crucial to effectively combatting scams.

However, some experts believe tech companies are not doing enough. Jake Sims, co-founder of Operation Shamrock, a global coalition fighting scams, argued that the current response is too reactive and insufficient to address the scale of the problem. He pointed out that despite Meta’s awareness of pig-butchering scams for years, the situation continues to worsen.

In conclusion, while Meta and other tech companies have taken steps to combat pig-butchering scams, the issue remains a significant challenge, requiring more proactive measures and industry-wide collaboration to protect users from these deceptive and harmful schemes.

Source

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