The FBI and local police across the country have had to issue warnings about disturbing child pornography content being shared across social media, primarily on Facebook
The FBI and local police across the country have had to issue warnings about disturbing child pornography content being shared across social media, primarily on Facebook.
The video apparently shows an adult male sexually abusing a young child – and has been shared repeatedly by people looking to help law enforcement officials catch the man.
But officers have warned that sharing or viewing the video – regardless of your intention – is a crime.
‘PLEASE DO NOT SHARE those images or video,’ the Polk County, Florida, sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post Sunday.
Though people are trying to help catch the alleged child rapist, the sheriff’s office reminded people that sharing the video is a felony.
But officers have warned that sharing or viewing the video – regardless of your intention – is a crime
‘Images and video depicting the sexual abuse of a child are pornography. Sharing them, even if your intent is to help, is a crime and continues to victimize the child,’ the office wrote in the post.
The office also said concerned citizens have been flooding their inboxes for multiple weeks now with the video – which they say is ‘too disturbing to even describe.’
They said the video has been reported and is being actively investigated – and warned people not to share it on their own pages.
The PSA is an attempt to make sure anyone concerned knows the right way to report instances of child pornography or sexual abuse such as this one
The officers said they understand people are trying to do the right thing by reporting it, but said most are doing it in the wrong way that is actually making the situation worse.
The PSA is an attempt to make sure anyone concerned knows the right way to report instances of child pornography or sexual abuse such as this one.
FBI and federal prosecutors are investigating the video – and no arrests have been made just yet.
But, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the victim is safe.
‘It is our understanding that Alabama law enforcement authorities, including their Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, have identified the suspect and victim and that the victim is safe,’ the office said in the PSA Sunday.
Any suspicious content should be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited children, which has a secure cyber tip line.