SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A girl is suing Snap, Apple and Google for their alleged roles in the sexual grooming she went through.
A plaintiff known as L.W. sued the corporate giants on May 2 in San Diego federal court, bringing claims under consumer protection laws, products liability laws and the Trafficking Victims Protections Act.
She says from age 12 to 16, she was groomed and abused by a man named B.P. on Snapchat after they met on Instagram. The grooming included an exchange of pornographic photos.
"B.P. would ridicule and berate her if L.W. refused and would compliment her when she would comply," the lawsuit says. "B.P. firs tasked L.W. for photos and videos in her underwear, then photos in the shower, and eventually photos and videos of L.W. depicting L.W.'s face and body, as well as exposed breasts and vaginal area.
"The videos include L.W. masturbating and penetrating her vagina with foreign objects at B.P.'s instructions and requests."
L.W. says she tried to block him multiple times but he would contact her through Instagram or with a fake Snapchat account. B.P. used Snapchat to sexually abuse others, the suit says, from his location in the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
The suit says Snapchat fosters a sense of impunity for people like B.P., while Apple and Google steer users to an app called Chitter that also featured in L.W.'s abuse.