Omegle Was Forced to Shut Down by a Lawsuit From a Sexual Abuse Survivor

ooli@lemmy.world to Technology@lemmy.world – 530 points –
Omegle Was Forced to Shut Down by a Lawsuit From a Sexual Abuse Survivor
wired.com
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I have a fundamental question about this case: was he there physically with her? Coercion is one thing, but the word "force" implies he was somehow in control. I am in no way defending him, but it reeks terribly of the "look what you made me do" vibe and I feel somewhat uneasy about how this played out.

Omegle was a piece of the internet I never partook in. It never appealed to me to talk with random internet people. Perhaps I don't understand why he had power over her.

Edit: thanks, I everyone. I get it from a subjective position.

Her lawsuit, filed in 2021, alleged that she met a man in his thirties on Omegle who forced her to take naked photos and videos over a three-year period. She was just 11 when it began in 2014.

Not all methods of force are physical. This was an adult talking to an 11 year old. 11 year olds have in many cases not had enough life experience to understand that there are adults that will manipulate them in this way. It’s possible he got her to do things and then blackmailed her for more. Regardless of how he did it, he was an adult and she was an 11 year old child. Not acceptable no matter the circumstance.

Perhaps I don't understand why he had power over her.

One can have leverage over another person by threatening to harm oneself or someone else.

There's been many cases in omegle of people threatening "show me your boobs or I'll kill this pet". If the victim complies, the agressor may continue through blackmailing.

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I can only assume but the first few pictures where probably coerced and after wards she was threatened to send more or he would release them. That definitely counts as forced. She was only 11 and this thing went on for 3 years. It's definitely not just "look what you made me do".

You can force someone to do something without being physically present.

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He somehow got her to get started and then threatened her, saying that she was now complicit in making illegal porn and would get in trouble.

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