A survivor of child sexual abuse has urged Elon Musk to prevent links that offer images of her abuse from being posted on his social media platform X. “Zora,” a pseudonym, expressed her anger that such material continues to circulate. X maintains it has “zero tolerance for child sexual abuse material” and prioritizes tackling exploitation. The BBC discovered images of Zora while examining the lucrative global trade in child sex abuse content. This content was for sale on X, and the transaction trail led to Jakarta, Indonesia. Zora’s abuse began over two decades ago by a family member, and her images are still traded today, causing her anguish. “My body is not a commodity,” she insists. Anonymous, a hacktivist group, reported an account on X selling such material, which was linked to a Telegram account promoting the content. BBC interaction with the trader revealed links to child abuse material, which were analyzed by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. The man linked to the trader’s bank information denied involvement when confronted. Zora’s images being marketed highlights a worldwide issue of the sale of child abuse material on platforms like X. Although Elon Musk stated removing such content is a priority, challenges remain. Experts like Lloyd Richardson from the CCCP emphasize that social media platforms could do more to prevent repeat offenders. X states it invests in detection measures and collaborates with authorities to combat exploitation. Telegram claims to ban accounts linked to child abuse. Upon discovering her photos being traded, Zora appealed to Elon Musk: “I beg you to act now to protect us like you’d protect your own children.” Help is available via the BBC Action Line for those affected by these issues.
