Thorn (organization)

Last updated
Thorn:
Digital Defenders of Children
Formation2012
Type NGO
Legal statusFoundation
Purposeaddressing the role of technology in the facilitation of human trafficking and child sexual exploitation
Location
  • 1240 Rosecrans Ave, Suite 120
    Manhattan Beach, California 90266
Region served
global
Official language
English
Founders
 Demi Moore
Ashton Kutcher
Executive Director
 Julie Cordua
Main organ
 Board of directors
Website www.thorn.org
Formerly called
DNA Foundation

Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children, previously known as DNA Foundation, is an international anti-human trafficking organization that works to address the sexual exploitation of children. The primary programming efforts of the organization focus on Internet technology and the role it plays in facilitating child pornography and sexual slavery of children on a global scale. The organization was founded by American actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher.

Contents

History

DNA Foundation was founded in 2009, by film and television actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. At that time, Moore was viewing an MSNBC documentary on human trafficking and sexual slavery of children in Cambodia. While later researching some of the issues that were presented in the film, she was inspired to act when she learned that child pornography and the sexual slavery of children were taking place not only in Cambodia, but in the United States as well. [1]

When DNA Foundation was established, the name of the organization represented the couple, along with their joint commitment to addressing human trafficking. On November 15, 2012, the name of the organization was changed following the dissolution of the founders' marriage. [2] As of 2012, they remain with the organization as co-founders. [3] The members of the board of directors of Thorn include Moore and Kutcher; as well as Ray Chambers, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Malaria; and Jim Pitkow, co-founder of Attributor. [4]

In September 2023, Kutcher resigned from the organization after sending a letter to a judge requesting leniency in the sentencing of his former costar Danny Masterson who was convicted of two counts of rape. [5]

Programming

Thorn works with a group of technology partners who serve the organization as members of the Technology Task Force. The goal of the program includes developing technological barriers and initiatives to ensure the safety of children online and deter sexual predators on the Internet. Various corporate members of the task force include Facebook, Google, Irdeto, Microsoft, Mozilla, Palantir, Salesforce Foundation, Symantec, and Twitter. [6]

Following the organizational change in November 2012, Kutcher and Moore made the following statement regarding the overall focus on technology:

For the past three years we have focused our work broadly on combating child sex trafficking. It has become crystal clear in our efforts that technology plays an increasingly large role in this crime and in the sexual exploitation of children overall. We believe that the technology-driven aspect of these crimes demands its own attention and investment. [2]

As of July 2013, Thorn is in talks with leading internet companies (Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Twitter and at least three others) to collaborate on creating a database of millions of child abuse images on the web. [7]

Corporate partners

Organizations that partner with Thorn in addressing child sex slavery include Polaris Project, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. [1]

Thorn has partnered with the McCain Institute. [8]

Notable supporters

The following are notable individuals from the film, television, and sports industries that support the work and mission of Thorn. [9]

Criticism

Netzpolitik.org and the investigative platform Follow the Money criticize that "Thorn has blurred the line between advocacy for children’s rights and its own interest as a vendor of scanning software." [10] [11] The possible conflict of interest has also been picked up by Balkan Insight, [12] Le Monde, [13] and El Diario. [14] A documentary by the German public-service television broadcaster ZDF criticizes Thorn’s influence on the legislative process of the European Union for a law from which Thorn would profit financially. [15] [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexual slavery</span> Slavery with the intention of using the slaves for sex

Sexual slavery and sexual exploitation is an attachment of any ownership right over one or more people with the intent of coercing or otherwise forcing them to engage in sexual activities. This includes forced labor that results in sexual activity, forced marriage and sex trafficking, such as the sexual trafficking of children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demi Moore</span> American actress (born 1962)

Demi Gene Moore is an American actress and producer. She first gained attention on daytime television, before breaking out as a film star in the 1980s. By the mid 1990s, she was the highest-paid actress at the time. She has earned several accolades throughout her career, including nominations for an Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashton Kutcher</span> American actor (born 1978)

Christopher Ashton Kutcher is an American actor, producer and entrepreneur. Kutcher began his acting career portraying Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show (1998–2006). He made his film debut in the romantic comedy Coming Soon (1999), followed by the comedy film Dude, Where's My Car? (2000), which was a box office success. In 2003, Kutcher starred in the romantic comedies Just Married and My Boss's Daughter. That year, he created and produced the television series Punk'd, also serving as host for the first eight of its ten seasons. Kutcher starred in the science fiction film The Butterfly Effect (2004) and had a voice role in Open Season (2006).

Free the Slaves is an international non-governmental organization and lobby group, established to campaign against the modern practice of slavery around the world. It was formed as the sister organization of Anti-Slavery International but has since become a separate entity and has no relationship with it. The organization was created as a result of research done by Kevin Bales in his book, Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Child prostitution</span> Prostitution involving a child

Child prostitution is prostitution involving a child, and it is a form of commercial sexual exploitation of children. The term normally refers to prostitution of a minor, or person under the legal age of consent. In most jurisdictions, child prostitution is illegal as part of general prohibition on prostitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexual grooming</span> Child sexual abuse compliance method

Sexual grooming refers to actions or behaviors used to establish an emotional connection with a minor, and sometimes the child's family, to lower the child's inhibitions with the objective of sexual abuse. It can occur in various settings, including online, in person, and through other means of communication. Children who are groomed may experience mental health issues, including "anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and suicidal thoughts."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commercial sexual exploitation of children</span> Commercial transaction that involves the sexual exploitation of a child

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) defines the “umbrella” of crimes and activities that involve inflicting sexual abuse on to a child as a financial or personal opportunity. Commercial Sexual Exploitation consists of forcing a child into prostitution, sex trafficking, early marriage, child sex tourism and any other venture of exploiting children into sexual activities. According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the lack of reporting the crime and “the difficulties associated with identifying and measuring victims and perpetrators” has made it almost impossible to create a national estimate of the prevalence of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the United States. There is an estimated one million children that are exploited for commercial sex globally; of the one million children that are exploited, the majority are girls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex trafficking</span> Trade of sexual slaves

Sex trafficking is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. It has been called a form of modern slavery because of the way victims are forced into sexual acts non-consensually, in a form of sexual slavery. Perpetrators of the crime are called sex traffickers or pimps—people who manipulate victims to engage in various forms of commercial sex with paying customers. Sex traffickers use force, fraud, and coercion as they recruit, transport, and provide their victims as prostitutes. Sometimes victims are brought into a situation of dependency on their trafficker(s), financially or emotionally. Every aspect of sex trafficking is considered a crime, from acquisition to transportation and exploitation of victims. This includes any sexual exploitation of adults or minors, including child sex tourism (CST) and domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human trafficking in the Philippines</span>

Human trafficking and the prostitution of children has been a significant issue in the Philippines, often controlled by organized crime syndicates. Human trafficking is a crime against humanity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human trafficking in Cambodia</span>

Cambodia is a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking. The traffickers are reportedly organized crime syndicates, parents, relatives, friends, intimate partners, and neighbors. Despite human trafficking being a crime in Cambodia, the country has a significant child sex tourism problem; some children are sold by their parents, while others are lured by what they think are legitimate job offers like waitressing, but then are forced into prostitution. Children are often held captive, beaten, and starved to force them into prostitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human trafficking</span> Trade of humans for exploitation

Human trafficking is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation.

Transnational efforts to prevent human trafficking are being made to prevent human trafficking in specific countries and around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ECPAT International</span> Global network of organizations against child sexual exploitation

ECPAT International is a global network of civil society organisations that works to end the sexual exploitation of children. It focuses on ending the online sexual exploitation of children, the trafficking of children for sexual purposes, the sexual exploitation of children in prostitution, child, early and forced marriages, and the sexual exploitation of children in the travel and tourism industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael C. Seto</span> Canadian forensic psychologist

Michael Chikong Seto is a Canadian forensic psychologist, sexologist, and author. He is director of Forensic Rehabilitation Research at the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, where his research focuses on pedophilia, sexual offenses committed against children, child pornography, risk assessment, offenders with mental disorders, psychopathy, and program evaluation.

<i>Not My Life</i> 2011 film by Robert Bilheimer

Not My Life is a 2011 American independent documentary film about human trafficking and contemporary slavery. The film was written, produced, and directed by Robert Bilheimer, who had been asked to make the film by Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Bilheimer planned Not My Life as the second installment in a trilogy, the first being A Closer Walk and the third being the unproduced Take Me Home. The title Not My Life came from a June 2009 interview with Molly Melching, founder of Tostan, who said that many people deny the reality of contemporary slavery because it is an uncomfortable truth, saying, "No, this is not my life."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julie Cordua</span>

Julie Cordua is an American entrepreneur serving as the chief executive officer and executive director of Thorn since 2012, and previously serving as the vice president of marketing at (RED).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex trafficking in Cambodia</span>

Sex trafficking in Cambodia is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Cambodia is a country of origin, destination and transit for sex trafficked persons.

Cybersex trafficking, live streaming sexual abuse, webcam sex tourism/abuse or ICTs -facilitated sexual exploitation is a cybercrime involving sex trafficking and the live streaming of coerced sexual acts and/or rape on webcam.

References

  1. 1 2 "MSN TakePart". Causes.msn.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-17. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  2. 1 2 "Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher Charity: Ex-Couple Working Together On THORN Foundation". Huffpost. November 16, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher to continue charity together". Toronto Sun. November 16, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Thorn: Board of Directors". Wearethorn.org. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  5. ↑ White, Abbey (September 15, 2023). "Ashton Kutcher Resigns as Chairman of Anti-Sex Abuse Organization Thorn Over Danny Masterson Character Statement". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Thorn: Technical Task Force". Wearethorn.org. Archived from the original on 2013-04-20. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  7. ↑ "Internet firms' plan to wipe child abuse images off web". Evening Standard. July 5, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Thorn, Digital Defenders of Children - McCain Institute". mccaininstitute.org. Archived from the original on 2020-03-02.
  9. ↑ "THORN: Celebrity Supporters". Looktothestars.org. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  10. ↑ Reuter, Markus (2023-10-07). "Chatkontrolle-Lobbyist Thorn: Mehr Startup als Wohltätigkeitsorganisation". netzpolitik.org (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  11. ↑ Fanta, Alexander; Fayed, Salsabil (2023-10-07). "How Ashton Kutcher's 'non-profit start-up' makes millions from the EU's fight against child abuse on the net". Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  12. ↑ Giacomo Zandonini, Apostolis Fotiadis and Luděk Stavinoha (2023-09-25). "'Who Benefits?' Inside the EU's Fight over Scanning for Child Sex Content" . Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  13. ↑ "Pédopornographie en ligne : bataille d'influence autour d'un texte européen controversé". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  14. ↑ Giacomo Zandonini, Apostolis Fotiadis y Luděk Stavinoha (2023-09-25). "Los conflictos de intereses en la lucha de la UE contra la pornografía infantil en Internet". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  15. ↑ "Chatkontrolle: Hollywoodstar Ashton Kutcher wirbt für Überwachung". www.zdf.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  16. ↑ Reuter, Markus (2024-01-26). "Verschlüsselung: Thorn brachte Chatkontrolle auch für andere Themen ins Spiel". netzpolitik.org (in German). Retrieved 2024-02-18.
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