Ending Sexploitation Podcast: Looking Back at 2025 in the Movement to End Sexual Exploitation

Join Haley and Dani this week as they discuss some of our most historic victories of 2025. From a win on age verification at the Supreme Court to the passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act to a first-of-its kind victory in our lawsuit against Twitter (now X). All of these victories, and more, are thanks to steadfast supporters, like you. Listen now to reflect back on the best wins of 2025!

🎧 This week's episode of the Ending Sexploitation Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Youtube. Listen now!

NCOSE Urges DOJ and FTC to Investigate X for AI Sexual Exploitation

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation is calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate X after its Grok AI chatbot reportedly created child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and has been allowing users to create nonconsensual sexualized images of women (image-based sexual abuse) that have been widely shared on the platform.

“As other countries are now doing, U.S. authorities must investigate X. U.S. federal laws prohibit the creation and distribution of child sexual abuse material, even virtually created CSAM in certain circumstances, such as when it depicts an identifiable child, or depicts a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. X may also have violated the Take It Down Act for failing to remove and/or continuing to generate non-consensual sexualized images of people without their consent. We urge the DOJ and FTC to investigate child exploitation crimes and violations of the Take It Down Act,” said Dani Pinter, Chief Legal Officer and Director of the Law Center for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation.

🗣️ Read our press statement here.

📣 ACTION: Urge the DOJ and FTC to Investigate Grok for Violating CSAM & IBSA Laws

Fox News: California mom says ChatGPT coached teen son on drug use before his fatal overdose: report

A California teenager used a chatbot over several months for drug-use guidance on ChatGPT, his mother said. 

She said her son, Sam Nelson, 18, was preparing for college when he asked an AI chatbot how many grams of kratom, a plant-based painkiller commonly sold at smoke shops and gas stations across the country, he would need to get a strong high.

The chatbot initially told Nelson that it could not provide guidance on substance use and directed Nelson to seek help from a health care professional. Over several months, however, the chatbot's responses began to change. 

Nelson's mother said ChatGPT began coaching her son on how to take drugs and to manage the effects, eventually leading to his death from overdosing at 19 years old. 

🤖 Read the full story to hear how AI chatbots are harming vulnerable users, especially teenagers.

📣 ACTION: Urge Congress to Support the AI LEAD and AI GUARD Acts!

Study on What Pornography Users Pay Attention to Provides Evidence for Addiction 

It was once believed that only substances like alcohol, cocaine, and nicotine could develop into genuine addictions. But what about certain behaviors like gambling and viewing pornography?  

According to a growing number of addiction experts, both substances and behaviors can be addictive. Sure, toxic substances may have additional negative effects on the body that behaviors do not, but addiction is about out of control behavior, not damage to the body. 

It is well documented in the addiction field that if you show an addict something related to their addiction (what scientists call a “cue”) they would pay more attention to the cue than a non-addict. This makes sense, as addicts tend to think about and pursue their addiction so often that they eventually neglect responsibilities and lose interest in other things essential for health and wellbeing. Put simply, an addict’s brain “values” their addiction over everything else in life, so they give it more attention. 

Researchers at Cambridge University investigated whether or not individuals with compulsive sexual behavior (compulsive pornography use) would pay greater attention to sexually explicit cues compared to healthy controls, similar to how drug addicts pay greater attention to cues associated with their addiction.  

🧠 Read this blog to learn what the researchers discovered.

📣 ACTION: Ask Your State Legislators to Require User Age Verification for Pornography!

Sincerely, 

P.S. Want to make a big difference in the fight to end sexual exploitation? Join the Defender Coalition! The Defender Coalition is a community of monthly donors and advocates, committed for the long haul to ending sexual abuse and exploitation at its roots.