Protecting a Child From Online Exploitation by an Adult Abroad
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed May 3, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
My minor daughter living in the US has received sexually explicit text and media messages from an adult living in the UK.
Attorney Answer
Report this immediately to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline and to the FBI or local police — this is both a Michigan crime and a cross-border matter that federal law enforcement is best positioned to pursue.
The Michigan crime that fits what you have described is disseminating sexually explicit matter to a minor. Under Michigan Compiled Laws Section 722.675, it is a felony to knowingly send a minor sexually explicit visual or verbal material that is harmful to minors, punishable by up to 2 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, as of publication. Michigan Compiled Laws Section 750.145d makes it a separate crime to use the internet or a computer to communicate with anyone for the purpose of committing that offense. Michigan's child sexually abusive material felony, Section 750.145c, is a different offense: it reaches material that depicts a child engaging in a listed sexual act, so it applies here only if the sender also solicited explicit images of your daughter or sent material depicting a minor. Tell investigators if either of those happened. Because the sender is in the UK, cross-border online exploitation cases like this often also involve federal jurisdiction in addition to state charges, since federal agencies have the cross-border law-enforcement channels needed to pursue someone overseas.
What you can do:
1. Report to the NCMEC CyberTipline and to the FBI or your local police department right away — this is the single most useful step and it triggers both state and federal review.
2. Preserve all messages, images, and platform or account details exactly as received; do not delete anything.
3. Adjust your daughter's privacy and contact settings on the platform involved and limit further contact with the sender.
4. Consult a local attorney experienced in criminal or internet-crime matters, who can help coordinate between state and federal authorities and represent your daughter's interests going forward.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where should sexually explicit contact with a minor be reported?
Generally, this should be reported immediately to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline and to the FBI or local police.
Does it matter that the sender is located in another country?
Generally, cross-border cases like this often involve federal jurisdiction, since federal agencies have the law-enforcement channels needed to pursue someone overseas.
What should a parent do with the messages a child received?
Generally, all messages, images, and account details should be preserved exactly as received, and privacy settings should be adjusted to limit further contact.
