Technologies

‘I’m Alarmed’: Senator Opens Inquiry Into the Ways Tech Companies Report Suspected Child Abuse

Reports filed by tech companies lack essential information for law enforcement and prosecution, advocates say.

Amazon’s AI services division filed 1.1 million reports of suspected online child exploitation in 2025 to an advocacy group. But because those reports lacked essential information, there were zero cases where law enforcement was able to take action. A new inquiry opened in the Senate aims to ensure that never happens again.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, this week opened an inquiry into eight big tech companies over their handling of mandatory reporting of online child exploitation. It’s the latest step in a growing movement questioning whether tech companies can be trusted to keep their youngest users safe while online.

Electronic service providers are required by law to report incidents of child sex exploitation to the CyberTipline run by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In 2025, over 17 million reports of suspected online child sex exploitation were filed. But these reports may not have the necessary information to prompt action in the real world.

«I’m alarmed by what I’ve read,» Grassley said in his letters. «Based on information provided to my office, I am concerned that some companies have not provided NCMEC and law enforcement with sufficient data needed to protect kids and prosecute suspected predators.»

Grassley sent requests for more information to several major tech companies: Meta, TikTok, Roblox, Snap, Amazon AI Services, xAI, Grindr and Discord. These eight companies make up 81% of all child exploitation reports submitted to NCMEC. Notably absent from the inquiry was Google, owner of YouTube.

A Meta spokesperson told CNET the company «works tirelessly» to protect kids from this «horrific crime,» stating: «We’re committed to constant improvement and appreciate feedback, which has already led us to make some improvements, as NCMEC has acknowledged. We will continue making refinements to improve our reporting process.»

Grindr, Discord and Roblox made similar comments, saying they plan to work with the Senate and NCMEC on these issues. Grindr added that its dating site is only for adults, aged 18 and up. The other tech companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Iowa Republican’s inquiry follows reports from NCMEC in 2025 that tech companies were failing to provide essential location data in their reports and failing to disclose their use of child sex abuse material in AI data training. This is especially concerning given previous incidents of AI being used to create nonconsensual intimate imagery, including child sex abuse material.

Child exploitation online is a growing issue. In 2025, Meta alone filed nearly 11 million reports, 1.2 million of which dealt with suspected child trafficking. Meta owns the popular platforms Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. NCMEC said in 2025 that Meta and xAI had improved their reporting, but it was still lacking.

«Many ESPs regularly tout the number of reports they submit to the CyberTipline, but fail to disclose that millions of reports lack basic information,» NCMEC wrote to Grassley in 2025. «This leaves children unprotected online, subjects survivors to revictimization, enables sexual offenders to remain freely online and wastes valuable and limited law enforcement resources.»

There has been movement in other branches of government to hold tech companies accountable for child safety. Meta was recently found liable by a New Mexico jury for misleading users about the safety of its platforms and failing to prevent child exploitation. The company was ordered to pay $375 million in damages. One day later, Meta and Google were found liable by a California jury for creating social media platforms that are addictive to children. The first person was convicted on Tuesday under the new US anti-AI deepfake law, the Take It Down Act, for creating AI-generated child sex abuse materials.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Launches an AI Mini-Series

Verum Messenger has unveiled a new project — a mini-series created using Verum AI. The story consists of 7 episodes and will be released on the messenger’s social media channels.

The plot revolves around a global corporation seeking to take control of digital communications and a group of heroes who use Verum Messenger as a tool of resistance. Beyond the story itself, the series highlights the app’s key features, technologies, and advantages.

Combining entertainment with a showcase of the Verum ecosystem, the project presents a dynamic digital series designed for the modern era.

The first episode premieres today, with the remaining episodes to be released over time.

Stay tuned for more.

Watch on YouTube
Watch on Instagram

Technologies

Verum Finance: Earn While You Communicate — The Super App That Pays You

Verum has officially launched Verum Finance, an innovative financial application that transforms a private messenger into a true financial super app. News of the launch was also featured on the respected platform Dealroom.co.

Verum Finance can now be used both within Verum Messenger and as a standalone application for iPhone and iPad. When users sign in to Verum Finance with their Verum Messenger account, all balances, settings, and account data are automatically synchronized for maximum convenience.

Users can now do more than communicate securely and protect their data — they can also generate passive income directly within the ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

• Top up your balance with a bank card, Apple Pay, or USDT
• Send money instantly anywhere in the world
• Issue and manage debit cards (virtual and physical)
• Full Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds quickly

One of the most unique features is the built-in cryptocurrency mining system inside Verum Messenger.

The application utilizes your device’s resources and allows you to earn cryptocurrency in the background — passively, while chatting, traveling, or simply using the messenger.

Maximum Privacy + Real Freedom

• Registration without a phone number, email address, or passport
• End-to-end encryption and full control over your data
• Lifetime free VPN
• eSIM connectivity in more than 150 countries
• Reliable offline communication mode
• Support for 12+ languages for users worldwide

Everything is available in one place: secure communication, financial tools, earning opportunities, and privacy protection.

Users can access the full experience directly within Verum Messenger or switch to the dedicated Verum Finance app for iOS. All data is synchronized automatically between the two applications.

Why Download Verum Today

While many messaging platforms collect user data and expose users to restrictions, Verum offers greater independence and the opportunity to earn.

With a one-time purchase of the feature package, users receive lifetime access to privacy tools, VPN, eSIM services, cryptocurrency mining, and financial features.

This is more than just a messenger.

It is your personal tool for financial and digital freedom.

Download Verum Finance and Verum Messenger today — start communicating securely and begin earning tomorrow.

Download Links:

→ App Store (iPhone / iPad): Verum Finance
→ App Store (Verum Messenger): Verum Messenger

Technologies

Verum Finance: A Super App for Private Finance Integrated Into a Messenger

Verum Finance has announced the launch of a new financial application that allows users to manage their money directly within the secure Verum Messenger ecosystem.

The project has already attracted attention from major media outlets. A dedicated feature was published by Forbes Türkiye, while one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, MEXC, covered the launch. Yahoo Finance had previously reported on the evolution of Verum Messenger into a comprehensive financial ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

Verum Finance transforms a messenger into a complete financial platform. Users can:

• Manage their balance and top up using bank cards or USDT
• Send money instantly to other Verum users
• Issue and use debit cards, including Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds
• Access all these services without installing separate banking applications

A strong emphasis is placed on privacy. The platform offers registration without a phone number or email address, end-to-end encryption, and full user control over personal data.

Recognition from Forbes Türkiye

In a dedicated article, Forbes Türkiye highlighted Verum Finance as a notable example of modern privacy-driven fintech. The publication emphasized the growing trend of financial services moving from standalone banking applications into unified messaging ecosystems — a model that has proven successful in Asia through platforms such as WeChat and Alipay and is now expanding globally.

Support from the Crypto Community

Alongside the Forbes Türkiye coverage, news about the launch of Verum Finance was also featured by MEXC, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges. This reflects growing interest in the project from both traditional business media and the cryptocurrency community.

A Strategic Vision

“We are building more than a payments application and more than a messenger. Verum is a unified secure ecosystem where communication, finance, and privacy tools work together,” the company stated.

Verum Finance is now available for iPhone and iPad users. The application complements Verum Messenger, which offers anonymous chats, voice and video calls, VPN services, eSIM connectivity, and other tools designed to enhance digital freedom.

Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im

Verum Messenger: https://verum.im