Elon Musk’s social media platform X has been the subject of significant criticism, but the company has shown positive impact in addressing serious issues. A county prosecutor in Ohio stated that the indictment of a man on 54 charges related to the possession and distribution of child abuse materials may not have been possible without a tip from X.
According to County Prosecutor Zac Corbin, the suspect in the case, Daniel Wright, had obtained and shared illicit videos from social media sites like X and Telegram. X staff flagged and monitored the offending material, and the company notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about the matter.
Subsequently, law enforcement was able to track the perpetrator’s IP address to Brown County, enabling the Boone County Sheriff’s Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children division to initiate an investigation as detailed in a report by WCPO 9. NCMEC Exploited Children Division Director Jennifer Newman emphasized that while US tech companies are required to report illegal content on their platforms, they are not obligated to actively search for illicit material being posted or shared.
This lack of requirement leads to underreporting. X CEO Linda Yaccarino underscored the social media company’s efforts to protect children in a post, stating, “We must all do everything we can to protect children.”
It is evident that although X faces criticism, its role in identifying and reporting illicit material related to child abuse is a positive aspect. The company’s determination to contribute to the protection of children is emphasized by its proactive actions and collaboration with authorities.