A mother has described the harrowing details of online child exploitation with gaps in child safety laws described as “chilling.”
Jen Hoey told a parliamentary inquiry about how her nine-year-old daughter was groomed online.
Hoey said it took her daughter two years to disclose to her what had happened because she lived in fear after the perpetrator told her she faced arrest if she did so.
“Her whole demeanour changed, she showed extreme signs of separation anxiety from me and began to eat a lot less,” Hoey said.
“Following her disclosure, she informed me every single day she had been afraid she may be arrested—she was filled with self-blame and shame.”…