Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes

Preventing Online Crimes Against Kids: A Law Enforcement Perspective

In this episode of Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes, Donna speaks with Special Agent Courtney Goode about the grim reality of online crimes against children. They discuss law enforcement's role in combating sexual predators, traffickers, pornographers, and sextortionists who target children, and how to report suspicious activity. 

Their conversation underscores the need for parental involvement, early prevention, and offers practical tips on monitoring online behavior, establishing rules, and fostering open communication between parents and children.

AI, Online Child Exploitation, Prosecution & Prevention

In this episode of Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes, Donna is joined by John Pizzuro, co-founder and CEO of Raven, and former commander of the New Jersey ICAC Task Force. They discuss the legislative challenges and the role of artificial intelligence in online child exploitation, Raven’s mission to bridge gaps between legislation and law enforcement, the complexities of end-to-end encryption, and the implications of AI in generating child sexual abuse material (CSAM), as well as the urgent need for updated technology.

The Children's Internet Safety Presidential Pledge

This episode features Donna and Michael Letts, founder of InVestUSA. They delve into the grave issue of online child exploitation, and how the bi-partisan 2024 Children's Internet Safety Presidential Pledge is a step toward safeguarding children online. The discussion highlights the lucrative and global nature of child trafficking networks, the need for comprehensive law enforcement and military efforts, and major judicial reforms. They emphasize the importance of financial transparency and accountability in dismantling these criminal organizations.

Big Tech Accountability and The Dirty Dozen List

Donna is joined by Lina Nealon, Vice President and Director of Corporate Advocacy for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. They discuss Big Tech’s role in facilitating sexual exploitation and break down NCOSE’s “Dirty Dozen” campaign which calls out platforms like Snapchat, Spotify and Roblox for their inadequate safety measures to protect kids and teens. They also examine key legislative efforts, highlighting bipartisan support for reform to hold tech companies accountable.

Digital Addictions: Safeguarding Young Minds in the Age of Online Sexual Exploitation

In this episode, Donna is joined by mental health expert Rens de Koning to discuss the issue of digital addiction and its impact on young minds, particularly in the context of online sexual exploitation. They explore the alarming statistics regarding children's access to pornography, the evolution of explicit content, and the role of social media in shaping mental health. Their discussion emphasizes the importance of open communication between parents and children, the need for prevention strategies, and tips for recognizing the signs of addiction. 

Michael Reagan's Story: Child Survivor to Safety Advocate

Donna is joined by Michael Reagan, the eldest son of former President Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. The discussion centers around his personal experiences with childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted family friend and the lasting impact it has had on him. He shares about ongoing fear and shame that accompanied the abuse due to blackmail with images. He emphasizes the importance of parents listening to their children and recognizing warning signs, while also advocating for legislative reform to protect children in the digital age. Hear about the alarming increase in online child exploitation and the importance of public awareness and legislation to combat this issue. The episode is a call to action for parents, lawmakers, and society to protect children from both physical and online abuse.

How to Protect Kids in a Sexually Toxic Pornified Culture

Donna is joined by guest Gene McConnell, founder of Authentic Relationships International. They delve into the impact of early exposure to pornography on children and share personal stories. They highlight the connection between shame and broken relationships and stress the importance of open communication between parents and kids, in addition to using technology tools like filtering, monitoring, and time-limiting software to protect children online.

Sextortion: Gavin’s Guffey’s Tragic Story and His Dad’s Fight for Change

In this episode Donna and South Carolina Representative Brandon Guffey, discuss the tragic loss of his son, Gavin, who took his own life after becoming a victim of sextortion in July 2022. The discussion explores Guffey's advocacy journey, legislative efforts, and the establishment of 'Gavin's Law' which makes sextortion – the act of blackmailing someone after luring them to send sexually explicit photos of themselves via text or social media – a felony offense which becomes aggravated if the victim is a minor. The discussion also highlights big tech's inability to protect children online and stresses the importance of proactive parental engagement.

Online Privacy: Dead or Alive?

In this week's episode, Donna is joined by tech policy expert Rick Lane and telecommunications and public policy expert Greg Rohde to discuss the state of online privacy, the intersection of privacy and child exploitation, and the need for better regulation of internet platforms. They also address practical steps parents can take to protect their children's privacy online as well as the need for open communication between parents and children.

TikTok: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

The popular social media platform TikTok is under heavy scrutiny by U.S. lawmakers over concerns ranging from child safety to national security. In this episode, Donna is joined by tech experts Geoffrey Cain and Rick Lane to discuss issues related to the app’s content and user experience, as well as its parent company’s geopolitical affiliations. They explain how the U.S. version of TikTok is vastly different than its overseas counterpart, why that is extremely concerning, and important safety issues parents should consider before allowing their children to begin—or continue—using the app.