Memory Holed Online - Inaugural bulletin #001 (September - October 2019)
When one is online, information comes and goes at a speed that appears exponential. Such a blistering pace can be maddening enough to sap the sanity of anyone who wants to make sense of it all. All this information being hastily delivered to you with overwhelming volume makes staying online and cognizant of faction from fiction, an utterly confusing ordeal.
To preserve our online selves and make our internet experiences more pleasurable, one memory holes the majority of everything one absorbed online, thus relinquishing a inquisitive nature or investigative curiosity in favor of the scrolling news feed that endlessly refreshes itself. This is just the way it is now and it's a never-ending struggle to remember, a battle to retain what could be relevant.
The intent of Memory Holed Online is to provide a summary of what #ExposingExploitation considers to be worthwhile news, which at the time of publication garnered little attention and then surreptitiously slid into oblivion . Our Online Memory Hole articles will look at the events of the preceding month that need capturing before they suffer that same sliding and are forgotten.
In this inaugural bulletin, #ExposingExploitaiton covers recent news surrounding the KIK mobile messaging app. Memory Holed Online #1 hopes to generate enough interest from readers for them to pursue the many lines of enquiry regarding KIK that have not been investigated.
Outside of KIK, there was plenty of other online news & events in September - October 2019. These will belinked for your intractable discernment and welcome commentary.
Bear with us as we whittle away at this monthly bulletin format to hone it into something timely and useful. We always welcome feedback and any news regarding recent exploitation online that should be exposed. So please leave us a reply or check out our website/ social media.
DROP KIK
KIK is the apex example of a private, encrypted mobile chat application gone utterly wrong. This app is considered the unholy grail for practically any form of online exploitation that can be conceived.
If there is a perversion, there is a KIK group chat for it. If there are crimes, particularly crimes relating to the sexual exploitation of children (Forbes.com - Aug 2017), there will be endless group chats and forums to churn through here.
KIK is so well-known and widespread that it was surprising to read of it's apparent demise.
Ted Livingston - CEO of KIK deflects unwanted attention with his medium.com piece spruiking the cancellation of KIK to focus on "KIN" |+| Outline.com link to same
SNOPES.COM decided to run one of their trademark fact-checks on whether the Kik Messenger was App Shutting Down?.
KIK was entrenched as a leading hub for online exploitation crimes yet #ExposingExploitation does not know what such an announcement from the CEOs could be attributed to. Was KIK finally gone? Were they forced to close?
Did this drastic action indicate the reality of why KIK has gone, finally? Were they forced to close?
KIK Messenger app was not forced to close or held to account, for anything it seems (except their ICO float of their "KIN" Cryptocurrecy). As the white checkmarked tweet above illustrates with cheerful nonchalance, latest news out of the black (memory) hole is that KIK is not closing? (Daily Mail UK - Oct 15th)**
This memory-holing and lack of investigation into the KIK mobile messaging app is dumbfounding. Analysis on KIK's discontinuation and subsequent resurrection is severely lacking. A concerning state lacking any #OpChildSafety or #E-Safety highlights the need for #ExposingExploitation to continue.
Here is Why KIK is Still a Very Real Risk to Online Safety
Below is a table of US DoJ "Project Safe Childhood" search results for press releases relating to KIK for this month so far:
| Date | "KIK" - Oct 2019 (US DoJ: Project Safe Childhood search results) | Description (note: CSEM = Child Sexual Exploitation Material) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Oct | Palm Beach Gardens Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison on Federal Child Pornography Charges | Matthew Tassin, 37, of Palm Beach, Florida used KIK to obtain and share images and videos of CSEM. Those images and videos included pre-pubescent children engaged in forced sexual acts. |
| 1st Oct | Worcester Man Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography | Kenneth Gianatasio, 40, of Worcester, Massachusetts was caught using KIK messenger when he communicated with law enforcement officials who posed as a parent with children for sale. He said that he used KIK to find parents of underage girls to engage in sexual activity with. |
| 2nd Oct | Man Convicted at Trial in Miami of Orchestrating Snapchat Sextortion Ring that Targeted Children | Joseph Isaiah Woodson, Jr., 30, of Ashburn, Virginia used Snapchat as a "hunting grounds" to find minor victims to coerce and extort. KIK was used as the platform where sextortion material was recorded and sent through. |
| 3rd Oct | Former mayor pro tem admits to child pornography charges | used KIK messenger to obtain and store CSEM. Ocal John Miller is a 68 year old former Law Enforcement Officer (served as Chief of Police in Martinsville, West Virginia) from Seabrook, Texas. |
| 4th Oct | Oneida County Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography | KIK used to distribute child exploitation material to other members of his group. John Angwin, age 29 of Syracuse, New York also had 1,500 images & 150 video files on his i-phone of CSEM. |
| 5th Oct | Ohio Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography | used KIK to provide a forum for group members to discuss, share & trade CSEM of young boys. |
| 7th Oct | Windsor Locks Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offense | used KIK for grooming a 13 year old boy and enticement online to receive sexually explicit images. |
| 10th Oct | Channel3000 - Fort Atkinson man charged with child pornography distribution | Kyle A. Riggs, 33 of Fort Atkinson, WI, used KIK to send 2x CSE videos on October 5th. Indictment info here (US DoJ PSC page) |
Livestreaming & Livestream Grooming
Problems continue to plague livestreaming online. Threats persist for streamers and increasingly, viewers. The complex array of issues involving livestreams are tentatively being explored. Online E-celebrities are beginning to discuss the act of broadcasting a livestream and viewing them as an issue that can affect most of us.
Blair White vs Onision
Blair White follows up her viral livestream debate from August against the transgender troll Jessica Yaneev with this video.
September 5th, 2019,Youtube Hooktube Link
### **Korean Twitch Streamers Fight While Broadcasting Live**
This was odd and apparently consensual. Two Korean Twitch streamers signed a pact to fight each other on livestream. It was fairly violent and not much else is known outside of Twitch banning the livestreamers from their platform.
Korean streamer banned after crazy fight during Twitch broadcast |+| Sep 28, 2019 dextero.com
German Man Attempts Racial Slaughter Livestreaming on Twitch
27 year old German "incel" Stephan Balliet attempts to follow up on the accelerationist terrorist attack that was livestreamed by Australian Brenton Tarrant. He livestreams his terror commando live action roleplaying onto Twitch where it was barely noticed. Twitch responded quickly to this livestreaming of attempted terrorism, following up with numbers of views, copies shared, uploaded etc.
October 9th, 2019,Youtube Hooktube link |+| Liveleak Link
Cortland County Woman Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting a Child
"As part of her guilty plea, Berry admitted that she conspired with Lawrence Berry (whose charges are still pending) to sexually exploit a 3-year-old minor child in August and September of 2018 and that she engaged in sexual exploitation of that child on five different occasions. Berry further admitted that she transmitted images of the sexual abuse of the child to Lawrence Berry over livestream and by sending Lawrence Berry a video and images of the abuse."
Online Enticement
Online Enticement of minors to become victims of sextortion and producers of child sexual exploitation material persists. The last few months were as bad as ever.
Several of the examples linked below mention KIK.
Children as young as 9 groomed and raped on mobile dating apps such as Tinder and Grindr |+| Sky News, Sep 17th 2019
KIK Local man pleads guilty to creating child pornography through sexual abuse of toddler |+| September 24th, 2019, US DoJ: PSC Press Release
KIK Fayetteville Man Sentenced for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity |+| September 26th, 2019, US DoJ: PSC Press Release
KIK Lawrence Resident Indicted on Sexual Exploitation Charges |+| September 26th, 2019, US DoJ: PSC Press Release
Erie Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison in Sextortion Case |+| October 7th, 2019, US DoJ: PSC Press Release
Former Teacher And Summer Camp Employee Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Production Of Child Pornography - October 8th, 2019, US DoJ: PSC Press Release
Towson Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child Pornography |+| October 9th, 2019, US DoJ: PSC Press Release
Other Internet News
BANNED IN CHINA
Blizzard vs Hearthstone players who support Hong Kong,
South Park is Banned in China
DJ who "liked" a Tweet by South Park banned in China
8chan to relaunch as "8kun"? |+| October 7th, 2019, Twitter
EncyclopaediaDramatica is Back Online
Law Enforcement in South Florida Lead Effort to Seize Independentgirls.com, an Internet Forum for Prostitution Ads Some Ads Involved Minors US DoJ: PSC press release Friday, October 11, 2019
The Black Cube Chronicles: The Private Investigators An atmospheric series of articles covering the shadowy spy organisation "Black Cube", Harvey Weinstein and how a New York reporter got embroiled in the #MeToo saga on a personal level. This 3 part series published in the New Yorker magazine is evocative of some smokey, seductive tale depicting a Neo Film Noir story full of intrigue and deception. The New Yorker, October 7th 2019
| Part II: The Undercover Operative by Ronan Farrow | Part III: The Double Agent by Ronan Farrow |
|---|---|
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GOVERNMENT KNOWS BEST
Australian Government spends $33 million money to study the impact of online and digital technology on 0-8 year olds. Includes a grant to turn children into the equivalent of cats and dogs strapped with go-pros. 6PR radio podcast, 23rd September 2019
Big Brother is Watching Your Kids |+| September 23rd, 2019, The West Australian
