SC legislator partners with federal agency in fight against online child sextortion
In a joint effort to combat the rising threat of online child sextortion, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is joining with a South Carolina House member who knows firsthand the crime’s devastating effects.
State Rep. Brandon Guffey, R-York, and Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte have partnered to bring awareness to online child extortion or sextortion, according to a news release. The partnership, which also includes Amanda Whittle, director of the South Carolina Department of Children’s Advocacy, is a part of the Homeland Security Department’s “Know 2 Protect Campaign,” the release said.
“Education and awareness are 98% of the battle,” said Guffey, whose son was a victim of sex extortion. “The Know 2 Protect campaign is going to provide consistent updates and resources, including educational materials, to help prevent and fight against child exploitation. Now, we’re trying to spread the word that these resources are out there.”
HSI is the main investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The agency is responsible for investigating domestic and international crime and threats to the U.S..
“Finding and stopping those who seek to exploit our children online as well as those involved in viewing, creating or distributing these disturbing images of children is one of our highest priorities,” said Cardell T. Morant, special agent in charge of HSI Charlotte, which covers North and South Carolina. “I am happy to stand with our partners in this fight to protect our most vulnerable population.”
More than 3,000 cases of minors victimized by sex extortion were reported in 2022, according to the FBI.
The Department of Homeland Security’s national “Know 2 Protect Campaign” was created to bring to awareness to sextortion, morphed images, child pornography and other obscene material, Guffey said. The campaign works to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse, explain how to report online enticement and victimization and offer resources for victims, survivors and their supporters.
Free resources are available at Know2Protect.gov and DHS.gov. Parents can call the Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC Cyber Tipline.
Guffey, who lost his son, Gavin, to sextortion in 2022, has worked in the General Assembly to increase protections for children who may fall victim.
In 2023, Guffey introduced “Gavin’s Law,” which makes sextortion a felony offense that becomes aggravated if the victim is a minor. Sextortion is the act of blackmailing someone after luring them to send sexually explicit photos of themselves via text or social media.
In 2022, someone pretending to be a college-age woman asked Guffey’s son to send illicit photos of himself. After the pictures were exchanged, someone tried to extort Gavin and his family for money, which eventually led to his death by suicide, Guffey said.
Fighting for exploited children “is my life’s mission and I’ll do it until the day I die,” said Guffey, who was recently hired as a senior executive advisor for Cyber Dive, an Arizona-based tech company that offers products designed to help parents monitor their child’s online activity.
“While the internet can be a great resource for school research or staying in touch with friends and relatives, it is also, unfortunately, a place where bad actors can prey on our children,” Whittle said. “The dangers of sexual exploitation are not always obvious, and we are grateful for coordinated efforts like Know2Protect to help children and parents guard against the ongoing threat of online predators.”
