Child Exploitation Cyber Investigations

Technology is a double-edged sword. It can empower us, connect us, and solve problems, but it can also be used to exploit, manipulate, and harm. When it comes to protecting children online, that line gets especially thin. Digital forensics, AI-powered image classification, and global law enforcement collaboration are now essential tools for keeping families safe in a world that moves faster than most of us can keep up.

Debbie Garner knows this world intimately. She’s a retired Special Agent in charge with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and former commander of the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. For years she led efforts to track down online predators and bring justice to survivors. These days she’s working in the private sector, serving on the boards of Raven and Revere Technologies, pushing for smarter tech solutions and stronger training to support those still on the front lines.

In this episode we talk about the growing problem of online child exploitation, the reality of underfunded cybercrime units and the ways technology is being used to fight back. Whether you’re a parent, an educator or just someone who cares about kids online, you need to hear this.

Show Notes:

• [00:58] Debbie shares her law enforcement background over 30 years. She even worked undercover buying crack!
• [02:19] She spent the last 8 years of her career as the Supervisor Special Agent in charge of GBI's Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit.
• [02:45] Now that she's retired from law enforcement, she works in the private sector with technology companies.
• [05:36] It's become her passion, even in retirement, to help those who are victims of exploitation.
• [07:09] Most children are victimized by someone they know. There's also plenty of predators online.
• [08:55] There are multiple organizations that work on child exploitation investigations.
• [10:53] People in law enforcement do tend to prioritize these types of crimes.
• [12:12] We talk about how the investigations begin.
• [13:53] Cases have increased from 2400 tips a year to over 30,000.
• [15:17] There's never enough technology to keep up with the increase.
• [16:41] RAVEN is a lobbying group to request additional funding from Congress.
• [18:33] With over 30,000 tips last year Georgia made over 450 arrests.
• [22:13] There's now technology that will help find CSAM on phones. There are also some amazing investigations on the dark web.
• [25:15] OSINT is helping investigate and it's a collaborative community. 
• [27:55] Channels to report exploitation. Start with the platform, then National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and law enforcement.
• [31:34] Don't put images on the internet. Websites like Take It Down can help with images of underage people and Take It Down can help adults. 
• [33:43] Always mention if the person is underage when you make a report.
• [34:10] Talk to your kids and start early with age appropriate conversations about CSAM.

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