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

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Re: Omegle Was Forced to Shut Down by a Lawsuit from a Sexual Abuse Survivor

#2
> “Virtually every tool can be used for good or for evil, and that is especially true of communication tools, due to their innate flexibility,” Leif K-Brooks, Omegle’s founder, wrote in a note announcing the site’s end. “The telephone can be used to wish your grandmother ‘happy birthday’, but it can also be used to call in a bomb threat. There can be no honest accounting of Omegle without acknowledging that some people misused it, including to commit unspeakably heinous crimes.” K-Brooks’ note did not mention the settlement in his statement, but blamed the closure of Omegle on unspecified “attacks” against communication services.

> There’s a flaw in K-Brooks’ argument: The telephone doesn’t connect children and teens directly to sexual predators with the click of a button. Omegle’s model allowed sexual predators to sign on and click through a roulette of people, continuously jumping from one to another until they were face-to-face with who they were looking for.

Yesterday's discussion about K-Brooks' statement: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38199355

Re: Omegle Was Forced to Shut Down by a Lawsuit from a Sexual Abuse Survivor

#3

> “Virtually every tool can be used for good or for evil, and that is especially true of communication tools, due to their innate flexibility,” Leif K-Brooks, Omegle’s founder, wrote in a note announcing the site’s end. “The telephone can be used to wish your grandmother ‘happy birthday’, but it can also be used to call in a bomb threat. There can be no honest accounting of Omegle without acknowledging that some peop…

> There’s a flaw in K-Brooks’ argument: The telephone doesn’t connect children and teens directly to sexual predators with the click of a button. Omegle’s model allowed sexual predators to sign on and click through a roulette of people, continuously jumping from one to another until they were face-to-face with who they were looking for.

I used to answer the phone as a child and talk to complete strangers.

Re: Omegle Was Forced to Shut Down by a Lawsuit from a Sexual Abuse Survivor

#4
post #3

> “Virtually every tool can be used for good or for evil, and that is especially true of communication tools, due to their innate flexibility,” Leif K-Brooks, Omegle’s founder, wrote in a note announcing the site’s end. “The telephone can be used to wish your grandmother ‘happy birthday’, but it can also be used to call in a bomb threat. There can be no honest accounting of Omegle without acknowledging that some peop…

> There’s a flaw in K-Brooks’ argument: The telephone doesn’t connect children and teens directly to sexual predators with the click of a button. Omegle’s model allowed sexual predators to sign on and click through a roulette of people, continuously jumping from one to another until they were face-to-face with who they were looking for. I used to answer the phone as a child and talk to complete strangers.

Yes, but did they pull their dicks out or ask you to undress?

Telephone just isn’t a valid metaphor here.

Re: Omegle Was Forced to Shut Down by a Lawsuit from a Sexual Abuse Survivor

#6
post #4
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There’s a flaw in K-Brooks’ argument: The telephone doesn’t connect children and teens directly to sexual predators with the click of a button. Omegle’s model allowed sexual predators to sign on and click through a roulette of people, continuously jumping from one to another until they were face-to-face with who they were looking for. I used to answer the phone as a child and talk to complete strangers.

Yes, but did they pull their dicks out or ask you to undress? Telephone just isn’t a valid metaphor here.

I'm wondering how long it's going to be before someone sues a city for public indecency committed at a street intersection. After all, public spaces connect you instantly with strangers who only have to show up.

Re: Omegle Was Forced to Shut Down by a Lawsuit from a Sexual Abuse Survivor

#7

> “Virtually every tool can be used for good or for evil, and that is especially true of communication tools, due to their innate flexibility,” Leif K-Brooks, Omegle’s founder, wrote in a note announcing the site’s end. “The telephone can be used to wish your grandmother ‘happy birthday’, but it can also be used to call in a bomb threat. There can be no honest accounting of Omegle without acknowledging that some peop…

[deleted]

Re: Omegle Was Forced to Shut Down by a Lawsuit from a Sexual Abuse Survivor

#8
post #4
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There’s a flaw in K-Brooks’ argument: The telephone doesn’t connect children and teens directly to sexual predators with the click of a button. Omegle’s model allowed sexual predators to sign on and click through a roulette of people, continuously jumping from one to another until they were face-to-face with who they were looking for. I used to answer the phone as a child and talk to complete strangers.

Yes, but did they pull their dicks out or ask you to undress? Telephone just isn’t a valid metaphor here.

Yeah, especially since the vast majority (90%) of sexual abuse is done by people well known to the family of the abused (most likely the family itself). It's really hard to do forced physical sexual abuse over the internet when all that has to happen to end the interaction is a click.

Re: Omegle Was Forced to Shut Down by a Lawsuit from a Sexual Abuse Survivor

#10
post #4
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There’s a flaw in K-Brooks’ argument: The telephone doesn’t connect children and teens directly to sexual predators with the click of a button. Omegle’s model allowed sexual predators to sign on and click through a roulette of people, continuously jumping from one to another until they were face-to-face with who they were looking for. I used to answer the phone as a child and talk to complete strangers.

Yes, but did they pull their dicks out or ask you to undress? Telephone just isn’t a valid metaphor here.

Actually a sexual predator did call me when I was primary school. Back then when the phone rang as the principal was also a teacher, a student would run out to answer the phone. One day it was my turn. I answerd and asked politey how I could help. The person on the other end, claimed he was a doctor, and proceeded to ask increasingly personal and sexual questions to 10 year old me, and I didn't know what to do, I wasnt savvy enough to hang up, so went along with it, and eventually said if get the pricipal. So yes the phone can be used to abuse. Sick fucks will find a way.
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