Online predators targeting kids who are online more now due to COVID, investigators say
Holly Menino, KOMO News anchor/reporter
When coronavirus resulted in children being sent home from school so they could learn remotely in order to stay safe, law enforcement officials say online predators were waiting for the underage students.
The result has been an explosion of sexploitation and X-rated images of juveniles that have been posted online, prompting renewed efforts to track down offenders and curb the illegal online activity.
An undercover detective with the state's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force said it can be easy for children to fall into traps set by online stalkers.