Technology-facilitated abuse
Technology-facilitated abuse is any use of technology to threaten, manipulate, exploit, stalk, harass, monitor or otherwise harm another person. These are the forms Call to Freedom sees in South Dakota.
Building trust with a young person in order to exploit, abuse or manipulate them. It can happen online or in person, and it rarely looks like a threat while it is happening.
What it looks like
Threatening to share private, sexually explicit photographs, videos or information unless the victim complies. Demands are usually money, more images, continued contact or other favours. Many cases begin on social media or messaging apps.
What it looks like
Private or intimate images shared, posted, threatened or used without the person's permission. It is not limited to a former partner: anyone who shares, distributes or threatens to distribute such an image without consent may be breaking the law.
What it looks like
Artificial intelligence used to create fake photographs, video or audio that look real. Offenders use it to create fake explicit images, impersonate people, harass or embarrass victims, and commit fraud or extortion.
What it looks like
Repeatedly using technology to monitor, follow, threaten or harass another person.
What it looks like
Exploitation for commercial sex or labour through force, fraud or coercion. Where a minor is involved in a commercial sex act it is legally human trafficking regardless of whether force, fraud or coercion occurred.
What it looks like
Warning signs
These do not always mean abuse is occurring, but they should not be ignored.
Know your rights
South Dakota law addresses human trafficking, child sexual abuse material, AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfake sexual imagery, and certain forms of image-based abuse and exploitation.
Call to Freedom
Call or text. Free, confidential, and staffed on call after hours. You do not have to be certain, and you do not have to involve police to get help.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888
Nearly every family who calls us says the same thing: they knew something was wrong and did not have a word for it. Learning the words takes an afternoon.
