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Meet the paedophile hunter prowling through the internet

Written by : TNM

The News Minute | October 3, 2014 | 12.54 pm ISTStinson Hunter is an investigative crime journalist who claims to be on a mission to name and shame paedophiles in USA. He and his team create fake profiles in social networking sites and trap paedophiles while they try to do mischief.According to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, on any given day there are approximately 2,34,000 sex offenders who were convicted of rape or sexual assault and are in the custody or control of correction agencies.Internet is a medium where a number of paedophiles proliferate. The advantage that they can hide their real identities aids them in the offence.Stinson Hunter uses this same advantage to trap them. He, along with his team, creates fake profiles of minors in social networking sites and tracks paedophiles. The team meets the paedophiles who approach them through the multitude of fake profiles and submit all recorded information to the police. “We will continue to catch these sexual predators and do our best to protect children online,” his website says. On Thursday he aired a video of their work and sought help from the public to finance his project. So far, according to a report in the Metro, he has already received 15,000 pounds. However, while he claims to have exposed many paedophiles and busted many paedophile rackets, his means have been questioned by some who think that creating fake profiles is equivalent to inducing crime.What is child molestation?Child molestation and sexual abuse consists of inappropriate touching of a child or the sexual exploitation of children by taking sexual pictures and videos of them. Child molestation includes having the child undress, touching the child's genitals in a sexual manner, forcing the child to perform oral sex and actual sexual intercourse with the child.The US, being a country, perhaps, which values children the most, has been trying its best to curb this menace. However, understanding that concerted effort is required, the journalist is doing his part.

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