How to stop Illicit Massage Businesses that traffic sex victims

Illicit Massage Businesses (IMBs) are often a venue that uses the cover of a legitimate bodywork or massage business to use sex trafficked victims to provide commercial sex acts to a customer base of sex buyers. Based on revenue estimates of IMBs that have been closed by law enforcement – the average IMB can net around $250,000 in a year. The average IMB owner can easily earn over half a million dollars a year with 2-3 IMBs in a network and frequently require victims pay down their debt with interest.  The way to stop them is to report a suspected IMB to law enforcement. #millionkids #beaware #protectandprevent #educatetoprotect #stopsextrafficking

The new term “child sexual abuse and exploitation material” replaces “child pornography” in the Criminal Code (in force Oct 2025). For defence lawyers, it’s a linguistic, not legal, shift, but language matters: it reflects a move toward victim-centred justice and will shape how cases are framed and discussed in court. Good defence lawyers will adapt with precision and professionalism. #criminallawyers

Jacqueline Lee, associate professor and interim research director in the School of Public Service, published a paper with two co-authors that explores how defense attorney characteristics (race, sex, and public or private) influence the guilty plea process. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ehhy76VH

There's a huge and horrifying online market in sex exploitation, blackmail, and child sexual abuse. These crimes are often international and well-organised, and profit immensely from systematic abuse that victimises adults and children around the world. Crimes like these are very hard to stop. Offending often stretches across different continents, and such investigations require a massive effort by authorities in many different countries. With the rise in AI-powered 'deepfakes', it is now entirely possible for someone who has never taken a nude photograph in their lives to receive an email one day containing a doctored explicit image of themselves and a demand for payment. It was good to discuss this difficult topic with Sophie Baker of The Sun. You can find her full article here: https://lnkd.in/dU225cde

Los Angeles County Reaches $828M Settlement in New Wave of Sex Abuse Claims The County of Los Angeles has reached a tentative $828 million settlement to resolve more than 400 additional sexual abuse claims against county employees, following April’s record $4 billion settlement involving abuse in juvenile facilities. The agreement, pending approval by the Board of Supervisors, comes amid allegations of fraudulent claims linked to the earlier settlement. County officials say each new claim will undergo strict review to ensure funds go only to verified victims, as the total number of claims could exceed 14,000. #Settlement #SA

Technology facilitated sexual violence and sexual exploitation involve the use of technology in a harmful way against women and girls. For example, websites that advertise women and girls in the sex trade and pornography sites ultimately feed the demand that leads to trafficking for sexual exploitation. Everyday technology like cameras and GPS trackers are increasingly used in intimate partner abuse and coercive control.

At PC25, discover Safe2Say, an innovative anonymous reporting platform developed by Crime Stoppers WA in close collaboration with WA Police, academics, and industry partners. Since its introduction, Safe2Say has significantly enhanced the ability of the WA Police to engage with victim-survivors of sexual abuse. The platform's unique combination of anonymous, two-way communication and trauma-informed design has made it possible for individuals to report in their own time, on their own terms, often for the very first time. This session will share practical operational strategies, and a scalable, evidence-based model for improving victim engagement, building community trust, and enhancing investigative outcomes. Detective Superintendent Hamish McKenzie, WA Police Force Sex Crime Division, emphasises Safe2Say’s investigative value, aligning it explicitly with Royal Commission recommendations: “This allows us to go back to the users and ask those questions as follow-up questions... that could solve a serious child abuse matter and rescue a victim from harm.” Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/eh4sMayg #PC25 #ANZPAA #policeconference #safe2say #whatmattersmost #WAPoliceForce #crimestoppersWA

New findings from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reveal a “crisis” in online sexual exploitation — with AI-generated abuse, sextortion, and image-based harm increasing rapidly among teenagers. While initiatives like the IWF’s Image Intercept tool provide essential defence against the spread of illegal imagery, there’s another part of the story: the conversations that happen before the content ever exists. That’s where DRAGON-Spotter comes in. We don’t analyse images or detect CSAM. Instead, we help law enforcement identify concerning language patterns — those subtle indicators of grooming, coercion, or manipulation that can surface long before abuse occurs. All online harm begins with interaction. Understanding the language behind it is how we start to intervene earlier. #DRAGONSpotter #OnlineSafety #ChildProtection #AIForGood #PreventingHarm #LawEnforcementTools #Safeguarding #DigitalSignals #ProjectDRAGON

Episode 41 🎙️ Section 75 clearly defines what constitutes sexual harassment and ensures accountability for such acts. It includes — 🔹 Physical contact or advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures 🔹 Demanding or requesting sexual favours 🔹 Showing pornography against a woman’s will 🔹 Making sexually coloured remarks Punishment: 👉 For the first three acts — rigorous imprisonment up to 3 years, fine, or both. 👉 For sexually coloured remarks — imprisonment up to 1 year, fine, or both. This provision replaces Section 354A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and continues to protect a woman’s dignity and right to a safe environment. It reminds us that freedom at work or in society comes with responsibility and respect. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is not just a new name — it’s a call for awareness, sensitivity, and justice. #Episode41 #Section75BNS #BharatiyaNyayaSanhita #SexualHarassmentLaw #POSHAwareness #KnowYourRights #LegalAwareness #WomenSafety #EndHarassment #RespectAtWork #ConsentMatters #JusticeForAll