Who Are the Victims of Online Exploitation? – Deseret News

On Tuesday, former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, along with a group of lawmakers from both parties, introduced the Renewed Hope Act of 2024 on the Capitol lawn.

Tebow said he was joining Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Reps. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., in the fight against “one of the worst evils in the world” to announce the bill, which is aimed at combating online child abuse, Fox News reported.

According to lawmakers, the Renewed Hope Act is intended to strengthen the efforts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations by providing additional resources to the front lines of the fight.

Cornyn said the bill would give government agencies better tools to help vulnerable victims.

“No child should be subjected to online sexual exploitation and abuse,” Cornyn said. “Today, we are here to introduce the Renewed Hope Act, which would expand the government’s ability to identify, rescue and protect children and bring perpetrators to justice. This bill would provide Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations with increased resources and training, and new and advanced methods for victim identification.”

The goal is to use advanced victim identification methods and provide training to law enforcement personnel to improve child protection. The mission of the Renewed Hope Act is to save children while ensuring that online predators are brought to justice.

During the press conference, Tebow said, “This isn’t about policy or politics — it’s about people. It’s about people, every single one of those boys and girls. It’s about how we can reach as many of those boys and girls as possible.”

Tebow has been an advocate for child protection through his foundation since 2010. The foundation’s mission statement is: “The Tim Tebow Foundation exists to bring faith, hope and love to those who need a better day in their darkest hour of need. We strive to fight for the world’s most vulnerable people—the MVP—through our work in our four primary focus areas: anti-trafficking and child exploitation, orphan care and prevention, critical medical needs, and special needs ministry.”

According to Fox News, Cornyn said this bill would apply not only to major social media platforms, but also to encrypted websites.

Wasserman Schultz added: “This bill is about making sure that we have enough investigators on the front lines to find the digital footprint of where these images are being traded and circulated on the dark web and to find the digital footprint so that law enforcement can rescue that child who is in the middle of violent sexual abuse.”

According to the 2022 State Department report, the human trafficking industry is worth $150 billion a year in revenue.

Tebow described it as “one of the worst diseases in the world.”

According to The Guardian, more than 300 million children are victims of online abuse and sexual exploitation every year.

According to the Child Crime Prevention and Safety Center, more than 50% of victims of online sexual exploitation are between the ages of 12 and 15.

Fox News reported that Tebow raised the issue of combating online child exploitation and pornography with the House Judiciary Committee earlier this year.

“I love the name of this bill, the Renewed Hope Act of 2024,” said Tim Tebow. “And I love what ‘renewed’ means: giving someone the opportunity to thrive again.”