Lawmaker who lost son to suicide warns Senate that ‘big tech is the big tobacco of this generation'
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
South Carolina House Rep. Brandon Guffey gave powerful testimony in Wednesday's Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Children's Safety in the Digital Era. Guffey knows the dangers facing children online all too well. Nearly three years ago, Guffey lost his teenage son, Gavin, to suicide in an apparent sextortion scheme.
"Protecting youth from online dangers and holding big tech companies responsible is now my life's mission," Guffey told the committee. He also issued a stark warning, saying "big tech is the big tobacco of this generation."
In his testimony, a visibly emotional Guffey recounted the night his son took his own life and the fallout.
A scammer posing as a girl convinced Gavin to turn on "vanish mode" and send explicit photos in an Instagram chat. "Vanish mode" allows messages to disappear once they are received. The scammer then threatened to release the photos unless he received money from Gavin, who sent the online predator $25, saying it was all he had in his account. This wasn't enough for the scammer, who continued to demand more money. Tragically, Gavin took his own life as a result.
The predator, however, was not done with the Guffey family. The state lawmaker told the committee that the scammer proceeded to harass himself, his son and his teen cousin. Guffey says this is because Meta took down the account that tormented his son Gavin and left the rest of the scammer's accounts up.
Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal, who was indicted by a Grand Jury in October 2023, was extradited to the United States from Lagos, Nigeria. He faces the possibility of life in prison.
Within a few months of taking office, Guffey was able to pass a law bearing his son's name. Gavin's Law makes sextortion, the act of blackmailing someone using explicit images or videos, a felony in South Carolina. The offense can be upgraded to an aggravated felony if the victim is a minor or if there are other mitigating circumstances, which are outlined in the law. Additionally, Gavin's Law requires South Carolina schools to teach students about the dangers of sextortion.
"Sextortion is now taught throughout the State and every kid at least has some awareness so they don't feel alone like my son did that night," Guffey told the Senate committee on Wednesday.
Guffey does not have faith in Big Tech's ability to reform itself. He recalled attending a January 2024 hearing in which Mark Zuckerberg offered what he called "a forced, pathetic apology."
Guffey is demanding lawmakers take action on Section 230, which he believes will "go down as one of the greatest disasters."
Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act distinguishes Big Tech platforms from those that would be treated as a "publisher." This absolves online platforms of legal liability for what users post.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle discussed the need for legislation to create new industry standards for Big Tech aimed at protecting America's children.
While Guffey is advocating for federal legislation, he is also calling for a cultural shift.
"I believe that in this country we've lost grace, and we have too often kicked people for the mistakes that they make, and we tell our kids that 'everything you do online will stay with you forever.' Well, imagine if you just took your darkest moment and posted it online," Guffey said to the committee.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) says it received more than 26,710 reports of financial sextortion in 2023. NCMEC says it has seen "an overwhelming increase in reports of sextortion from children and teens." The center advises parents to talk to their kids about the dangers of sextortion, but also to let them know that they need to get help and not immediately pay or comply with the blackmailer.
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