Episode 20 - Taking On Human Trafficking and the Dark Side of Social Media in Big Tech with Attorney Annie McAdams

Annie McAdams is waging a legal battle against Facebook, Instagram, Craig’s List and other tech companies,for allowing the sex trafficking of minors utilizing their digital platforms to lure and exploit children. Up until now, big tech has enjoyed the luxury of liability protection by hiding behind the Communications Decency Act of 1996 (CDA) which says that media publishers are not necessarily responsible for the information they publish or disseminate. Recently, a federal court ruled that sex trafficking victims are going to have their day in court. Annie speaks about her journey from being an inquisitive child to now owning a large law firm and taking on some of the most difficult cases in the country to stop abuses of minors. Annie is a very high profile, trial lawyer taking on massive public companies to shed light on what has become a serious issue globally. We talk about how child sex trafficking is happening on social media right under our noses, in our neighborhoods and all around us. Tune in as Annie explains what to look for when checking your children’s digital footprint.

If you are a parent of a preteen or teenaged child - this podcast is mission critical to hear. 60 Minutes broke this story in March, 2021, and shortly thereafter, Annie McAdams sat down with Tracy Holland on this very important conversation to share with listeners on Potential to Powerhouse, Success Secrets of Female Leaders.

In This Episode:

[02:45] About Annie’s significant win in her battle against big tech and sex trafficking.

[06:40] As a child, Annie was a disruptor and a talker, she loved to ask questions and push against the status quo. She reveals which qualities led her to become a successful lawyer.  

[12:30] How financial motivation played a role in Annie’s journey. 

[25:30] Annie explains why having a female boss was the best gift she could have been given. 

[27:55] How Annie learned that sex traffickers target their victims on social media platforms, she knew she had to do something about it. 

[36:10] About the prevalence of sex trafficking in the United States. Annie reveals how predators pick their victims, how they groom them, and what happens to them after they are abducted.

[41:55] About the ways that predators will move into the grooming phase – even spending years building trust with children.

[52:30] Annie explains what happens after a child has been sex trafficked. 

Key Takeaways:

Over 100,000 children in the United States are trafficked online.

To avoid danger, your kids should not be allowed on social media.

Keep your kids safe by talking to them about online safety; teach them to be smart about strangers.

Bio: 

For her entire career, Annie McAdams has exclusively represented plaintiffs who have been victims of injury or harm due to the negligence or acts of others. After working for Steelman & McAdams for 10 years, she formed Annie McAdams PC on the premise of providing exceptional legal services to hard working people. Her practice focuses on representing those who have been a survivors of human trafficking, killed or seriously injured in major trucking and motor vehicle accidents, by dangerous drugs and medical devices, or whose lives have been seriously disrupted or even destroyed by the bad faith conduct of an insurance company.

CONNECTIONS:

For more Annie McAdams, follow her on Twitter. Also be sure to check out Annie McAdams PC.  

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